Teddy Pendergrass dominated R&B music in the 1970s and 80s. He got his start as the lead singer of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes and quickly established himself as a sexy solo artist known to drive the ladies crazy with his smooth baritone voice.
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But in 1982, Pendergrass was involved in a tragic car accident that left him paralyzed and wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life. Although he would never be the same again, he’d already left a lasting impact on R&B music and laid a blueprint for artists like Usher, Maxwell and Anthony Hamilton.
This is the story of Teddy Pendergrass.
Pride of Philadelphia
Born Theodore DeReese Pendergrass on March 26, 1950, Teddy Pendergrass was the only son of Ida and Jesse Pendergrass. Ida raised Teddy as a single mother in North Philadelphia. He grew up singing gospel music and playing drums in church and became an ordained minister at age ten.
Musical Influences
As a young teen, Pendergrass says it was legendary singer Jackie Wilson who made him realize that he wanted a career in the music industry.
“I always knew that I wanted to be in show business, but it was confirmed for me when I was about 13 and saw Jackie Wilson on stage,” he said in a 1995 interview. “I saw the way we worked on stage. That, for me, was it and I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”
In addition to Jackie Wilson, Pendergrass says he drew inspiration from a diverse group of musical influences, including James Brown, Otis Redding, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra.
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
With a smooth voice and good looks, Pendergrass was a natural, and his talent propelled him to a spot singing lead with the R&B group Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes in 1970. By 1972, the group had secured a contract with Philadelphia International Records. The group went on to be known for mega-hits like “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” “Wake Up, Everybody” and “The Love I Lost.”
Going Solo
By 1975, financial and personality disagreements led Teddy to pursue a solo career. He released his first album, “Teddy Pendergrass” in 1977, which reached number five on Billboard’s R&B album charts and included the hits, “You Can’t Hide From Yourself,” “The Whole Town’s Laughing at Me” and “I Don’t Love You Anymore.”
Sophomore Success
Teddy followed up the success of his first solo album with his sophomore project, 1978's “Life is a Song Worth Singing.” The album proved Teddy was a certified solo star and produced the sultry hit,”Close the Door.”
“Turn Off the Lights”
By the time he released his third solo album, “Teddy,” in 1979, Pendergrass was a certified sex symbol. With hit songs like “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” and “Turn Off The Lights,” he was simply irresistable.
Ladies Man
Besides having an amazing voice, Pendergrass knew how to make his tall, dark and handsome work for him. He became known for giving “For Ladies Only” shows, where he would perform his sensual songs for sold out crowds in his signature tank top.
“I think the tone of his voice hit a certain center in them, or something,” said James Carter, who played drums for Pendergrass. “He wasn’t built like Arnold Schwarzenegger or nothing, he came out in that wife-beater T-shirt and they went crazy. We didn’t understand it. I don’t even think he understood it.”
Black Elvis
As his star continued to rise, Teddy Pendergrass was often referred to as the “Black Elvis.” From his sprawling mansion to his fleet of fancy cars, everything about his life screamed luxury. He even had his own line of jeans for women!
Best Male Soul Artist
In 1979, Teddy tied with Lou Rawls to win the American Music Award for Best Male Soul Artist.
“Love T.K.O.”
In 1980, Pendergrass released the album “TP.” With help from super producers Ashford & Simpson and McFadden and Whitehead, the album was packed with hits like “Love T.K.O.”
A Tragic Crash
Pendergrass’ life changed forever in March of 1982 when he lost control of his Rolls Royce and hit two trees. The accident left him with spinal cord injuries that paralyzed him from the chest down and confined him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Tenika Watson, a transgender nightclub performer who was with him at the time of the accident described the event in an interview for the Oprah Winfrey Network.
“I noticed he was struggling with the wheel, and then all of a sudden, I heard this great big bang,” she said. “I had a chipped tooth, which was nothing compared to him.”
Return to the Stage
In July of 1985, Teddy made a triumphant return to the stage at the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia. After performing a moving rendition of “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)“ with Ashford & Simpson, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Helping Others
By 2006, Pendergrass left the music business and focused his time and energy on The Teddy Pendergrass Alliance, a non-profit he started to help others living with spinal cord injuries.
Losing a Legend
In January of 2010, Pendergrass died in a hospital outside of Philadelphia due to complications related to colon cancer. Fans and fellow artists mourned the loss of the R&B legend. “Soul will never be the same,” Questlove said on Twitter at the time.
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