Soul Man Teddy Pendergrass

Soul singer Teddy Pendergrass was born in Philadelphia on March 26, 1950.

Hailing from a family with strong religious beliefs he became an ordained minister at 10 and was an active member of his church gospel choir. Pendergrass would also sing regularly with the city wide McIntyre Elementary School Choir and the All-City Stetson Junior High School Choir.

Pendergrass taught himself the drums and at the age of 15 formed his own pop vocal group. By the time he was in his late teens he was a drummer with a local group called The Cadillacs. In the late ‘60s, this group merged with another more established outfit called Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. When the Blue Notes broke up in 1970, Pendergrass was invited to become the group’s lead singer.

Pendergrass’ gruff and gritty voice soon attracted the attention of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff of Philadelphia International Records, a CBS subsidiary. The group was signed to the label in 1972 and went on to produce a string of hits which included I Miss You, If You Don’t Know Me By Now, The Love I Lost, Bad Luck and Wake Up Everybody.

This success however created tensions between Pendergrass, the star of the band and Melvin, the group’s original front man. The group was being billed as Melvin and the Blue Notes featuring Teddy Pendergrass. But Melvin felt sidelined as Pendergrass seemed to be getting more attention. Ultimately Pendergrass left the Blue Notes and formed a parallel band of the same name. The ensuing confusion however did not last long as Pendergrass soon decided to disband his group and go solo.

Philadelphia International Records signed Pendergrass to a new contract in the late sixties and he made his solo debut with a self titled album. Singles such as I Don’t Love You Any More, You Can’t Hide From Yourself and The More I Get the More I Want ensured that Pendergrass could hold his own as a soloist with ease. It was also around this time that Pendergrass initiated his trademark “Ladies Only” concerts.

Life Is A Song Worth Singing (1978), Teddy (1979) and Teddy Live (Coast to Coast) soon followed with each one attaining either gold or platinum status. The eighties too saw a string of successful albums like TP in 1980 and Its Time For Love in 1981.

In 1982 Pendergrass was involved in an unfortunate car accident which left him paralysed waist down and confined to a wheelchair. After a year in rehab, he returned in 1983 to sign with Elektra/Asylum and released Love Language, another gold album in 1984. Around the same time Philadelphia International also issued two albums This One’s For You (1982) and Heaven Only Knows (1983), compiled from previously unreleased material.

Pendergrass made his first public appearance in July, 1985 at the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia. Undaunted by his set back he continued recording through the eighties, producing albums like Working It Back (1985), Joy (1988) and Little More Magic (1993). By the end of the ‘90s he was recording for the Surefire/Wind Up label.

Pendergrass’ ‘70s hit Close The Door was used on the soundtrack of Soup For One, a film which also had him making a cameo appearance.

Over the years, Pendergrass’ achievements have been recognised by the music industry through several awards. He has received several Grammy nominations, Billboard’s Pop Album New Artist Award (1977) and an American Music Award among others.

Teddy Pendergrass penned his autobiography with Patricia Romanowski. Called Truly Blessed, it is an interesting read.