Teddy Pendergrass
Born March 26 1950, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Theodore DeReese Pendergrass was reared in holiness churches in North Philadelphia. Show business was almost as endemic to his community as religion. Soon, the Uptown Theater, Philadelphia's version of the Apollo, was attracting the clean-cut youth from down the street. Pendergrass made a rite of passage in that regard when he was 13.
Though he would be extremely successful by the time he was in his mid-twenties, Pendergrass did pay his dues. After dropping out of high school, he worked at any menial job he could obtain, from waffle-making to driving a truck. But, his favored occupation was as a drummer, a skill he had perfected by his late teens. He drummed for several local bands. Then, in 1969, Harold Melvin, newly blown off by the latest version of the Blue Notes, hired the group Pendergrass was drumming for as vocalists and installed Teddy as drummer for the reconstituted Blue Notes. Within a year, the drummer was out front singing lead on most of the group's songs.
His ragged, passionate interpretations brought distinction to such releases as "I Miss You" and "If You Don't Know Me By Now". Pendergrass credits Melvin with teaching him the ins and outs of show business. However, the relationship was fraught with tension from the start. For years, Melvin insisted on calling the group Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. Many a confused person thought that Pendergrass, the tall, dark, lead vocalist, a commanding presence, was Melvin.
In 1976 Pendergrass embarked on a successful solo career, remaining with Philadelphia International Records. His skills were most apparent on slower material, which proved ideal for the singer's uncompromisingly sensual approach, which earned him a huge following among women. "The Whole Town's Laughing At Me" (1977), "Close The Door" (1978) and "Turn Off The Lights" (1979) stand among the best of his early work and if later releases were increasingly drawn towards a smoother, more polished direction, Pendergrass was still capable of creating excellent records, including a moving rendition of "Love TKO", a haunting Womack And Womack composition.
However, his life was inexorably changed in 1982, following a near-fatal car accident that left the singer confined to a wheelchair, although his voice was intact. Nonetheless, after months of physical and emotional therapy, he was able to begin recording again. "Hold Me' (1984), Pendergrass" debut hit on his new outlet, Asylum Records, also featured Whitney Houston, while further success followed with "Love 4/2" (1986), "Joy" and "2 A.M." (both 1988). In 1991, "It Should Have Been You" did much to reinstate him in people's mind's as a major artist. He moved to a new label in 1996 after a lengthy gap in his career.
Albums
Teddy Pendergrass (1977)
Life Is A Song Worth Singing (1978)
Teddy (1979)
Teddy Live! (Coast To Coast) (1979)
TP (1980)
It's Time For Love (1981)
This One's For You (1982)
Heaven Only Knows (1983)
Love Language (1984)
Workin' It Back (1985)
Joy (1988)
Truly Blessed (1991)
Little More Magic (1993)
You And I (1997)
From Teddy With Love (2002)
Teddy Pendergrass Album info
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