Howard Hewett, Al Green, Peabo Bryson, and many other balladeers were all famous for wooing females on stage. But, there was only one who could hold an all-female only concert; Theodore Pendergrass. The world came to know him as, Teddy Pendergrass or more affectionately “Teddy Bear”. He first became popular when singing with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes in the 70’s. He was badly injured in an automobile accident and paralyzed from waist down. He lived 25 years after his injury; which is not normally consistent with an injury of this type. He later died of complications of a colon cancer surgery. I would like to discuss his triumphs of accusations of drug abuse, struggling to become an international artist, and dealing with being a paraplegic. Come with me as I take a walk down memory lane of Balladeer; Teddy Pendergrass.

Pendergrass was born Theodore DeReese Pendergrass in Philadelphia on March 26, 1950. He was an only child. Pendergrass’s mom had six miscarriages before giving birth to him; all of them were boys. His parents were Jesse Pendergrass and Ida Geraldine Epps. Pendergrass parents separated when he was very young. Jessie Pendergrass was killed later; Teddy was only 12 years old.
Pendergrass was a student at Thomas Edison High; which was an all-boys school. Before dropping out in the 11th grade; he was a member of the Edison Mastersingers. He decided to pursue a career in the music industry after dropping out. His first gig was a drummer with some of the local groups in Philadelphia. He eventually became a drummer for a group called, the Cadillacs. He was discovered by Harold Melvin who was the founder of the Blue Notes, and was asked to play drums in the group. Pendergrass song along during a performance one time; and Harold was so impressed; he made him the lead vocalist. Pendergrass changed the struggle of the Blue Notes; trying to find success when he joined the group.
“I Miss You” became a hit in 1972 for the group and put them back in the game of the rhythm and blues scene. The group’s sophomore hit, “If You Don’t Know Me by Now” hit the top ten spot on Billboard 100. It also was number one on the (called back then) soul chart. The group had other hits such as, “Don’t Leave Me This Way”, “Bad Luck”, “The Love I Lost”, and “Wake Up Everybody”. Although Pendergrass sky rocketed the Blue Note’s career; there were always issues with money and jealously between him and Harold. Conflict between the two was so bad at one point; Pendergrass wanted the group to be renamed, “Teddy Pendergrass and the Blue Notes”. People actually thought that Pendergrass was Harold. He eventually left the group in 1977.
Pendergrass made a bigger bang with his solo career. In 1979 his first single, “I Don’t Love You Anymore” went platinum. Other hits consisted of, “The Whole Town’s Laughing at Me”; which was on the top 20 Rhythm and Blues list for several weeks, “Life is a Song Worth Singing”, “Only You”, and “Close the Door”. He had a very successful year in 1979. The song I remember the most was, “Love TKO” in 1980. It served as the anthem for guys who met a girl that was too much to handle. He achieved an even greater success by earning five back to back platinum albums between 1977-1981.
Pendergrass audience was mainly composed of females of all nationalities. He often had concerts that only females could attend. Females would take off their underwear and throw them on the stage; this became the theme for Pendergrass’s “female only” concerts. He was gaining popularity that the other sexy soul crooners such as Al Green, Peabo Bryson, and Howard Hewett were not able to touch in such a way. After all; he had five platinum and two gold albums to prove it.
Unfortunately; Pendergrass’s luck would change for the worst. He wrecked his automobile on March 18, 1992, while riding in the Germantown area in Philadelphia. His brakes failed causing his car to hit a rail and crash into two trees. There were accusations that Pendergrass was on drugs at the time of the accident, but after investigations were complete; it was determined that those accusations were negative. No other findings in reference to other substance abuse was ever proven to hold any truth. There was a female impersonator in the car with him; which caused his fans eyebrow’s to raise. They were both trapped in the car for 45 minutes, but Pendergrass was the one to walk away paralyzed from waist down.
He never walked again. His albums that released in 1982 and 1983 did not make the charts. These albums contained music prior to his accident. The albums satisfied his contract with Philadelphia International. He searched painfully to find a new record deal and eventually succeeded. Fans were still holding on to hope for the “Teddy Bear” and sent their condolences. “Love Language” was released in 1984 and included background vocals by Whitney Houston. At that time, Whitney was not hot in the industry. It did not do so well.
Pendergrass appeared in his first live performance in a wheelchair on July 13, 1985; since the accident. He released the album, “Joy” in 1998 and the single entitled “Joy” as well, topped the Hot 100 chart at number 77.6 This was a big accomplishment for Pendergrass, after not having a hit in over a decade. He recorded “Believe in Love” in 1984 and it became a hit. He also performed in gospel musicals such as, “Your Arms Too Short to Box with God”. He released his autobiography, Truly Blessed in 1998. It was a great success.
Pendergrass announced he was retiring in 2006. I thought to myself; “another talent gone to waste”. However; he did perform at the Teddy25 awards ceremony. The ceremony paid tribute to his 25 years since he had the accident. It allowed him to raise money for his, “The Teddy Pendergrass Alliance” which he and his wife Joan founded. Joan was always a great wife and supporter.
He had surgery for colon cancer in 2009, which turned out to be successful. Unfortunately; he had complications from the surgery and died of respiratory failure on January 13, 2010. It was a sad day for his fans as well as anyone else that has listened to his music or has read his autobiography.
Pendergrass is survived by his mother Ida, wife Joan, three children Teddy II, LaDonna, Tisha, four grandchildren, step daughters Sherilla Leftrade, Jessica Avila, and three step grandchildren.
In spite of all the trials and tribulations that Theodore DeReese Pendergrass endured; he never gave up. I could have not imagined how it would have been to be a young high profile star one day and then a paraplegic in a wheelchair the next. Life is but a vapor and we also must be able to fulfill our goal that is set for us without wavering. Maybe his reason for being here was to become the founder of an alliance for other people that are paralyzed and have no resources to help them to excel. There were trials and tribulations all along the way to prevent him from fulfilling his goal. First; his mother had six miscarriages before being able to conceive him and he ended up being an only child. Second; he was blessing to group that had a dead end career, which he suffered disloyalty from. Third, he did what most people in the past with such injury never do; live 25 years afterwards. He made lemonade out of lemons. Ladies and gentle; I salute Mr. Theodore “Teddy” Pendergrass.
In Loving Memory of

Teddy Pendergrass

References
Pendergrass, T., & Romanowski, P. (1999) Truly Blessed, Berkley Boulevard Publishers.