Teddy Pendergrass 1950-2010

Famed 1970′s and 80′s R&B and soul singer Teddy Pendergrass has died.  A family member reports that the famed musician died on Wednesday at Bryn Mawr Hospital in suburban Philadelphia, having never fully recovered from colon cancer surgery eight months ago.  He was 59.

Pendergrass began his career in the early 70s when he became the lead singer for  Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.  Their hits included “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” and “I Miss You.”  In 1975 he quit the band and launched a successful solo career with a string of love ballads that included “I Don’t Love You Anymore”, “Close the Door”, “Turn Off the Lights”, and “Love TKO”.

In 1982 Pendergrass was involved in the near-fatal crash of his Rolls Royce.  The car accident left him paralyzed below the waist.  Two years later he recorded the duet “Hold Me” with Whitney Houston.    In 1985 he appeared at the Live Aid concert and performed from his wheelchair.  He continued to record until announcing his retirement in 2006.

Leon Huff, a writer and producer for many of the singer’s biggest hits said, “When Teddy walked out on stage, he didn’t even open his mouth and the place went crazy with screaming females.  He was just so dynamic and when he started to sing he just blew them away.”

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