(From the NY Times - Music Section - January 14, 2010)
Teddy Pendergrass, the Philadelphia soul singer whose husky, potent baritone was one definition of R&B seduction in the 1970s but whose career suffered a blow in 1982 when an auto accident left him severely paralyzed, died on Wednesday night in Bryn Mawr, Pa. He was 59.
As the lead singer for Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, and in a solo career in which he sold millions of albums, Mr. Pendergrass brought gospel dynamics to bedroom vows in songs like “If You Don’t Know Me by Now,” “The Love I Lost,” “Close the Door,” “Turn Out the Lights” and “Love T.K.O.”
His performances rose from breathy whispers to gutsy exhortations, making his voice the deeper, more aggressive counterpart to the styles of 1970s soul men like Al Green and Marvin Gaye. It was the flagship sound for Philadelphia International Records, riding lush strings and big-band disco from the producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.
TEDDY PENDERGRASS – Love TKO
TEDDY PENDERGRASS – Come Go With Me
TEDDY PENDERGRASS – Close the Door
TEDDY PENDERGRASS (With Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes) – If You Don’t Know Me By Now
TEDDY PENDERGRASS (With Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes) The Love I Lost
Rest in Peace Bro!
2 comments:
I have very fond memories of dancing and grooving to Teddy's soulful music (also Al Green and Marvin Gaye). He was a great performer and a real nice man. After his 1982 accident, which left him paralyzed from the waist down, Teddy began a foundation to help victims of spinal cord injuries.
Teddy wrote the following inspirational words:
To some folks life come easy,
To some life come hard,
Some keep on tryin,'
Some just get tired.
deb very nice music ! he was a very good singer and his music sounds very good :! i like it !
thank you for this music !
good to dance slowdance ! oh he died very young ! we have to pray for him
byeee deb
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