No one has ever defined the word “soul” to the satisfaction of everyone, and no one ever will. That is because it is one of those entities that is more effectively felt than described. You know it when you hear it, and it is the foundation of rhythm ’n’ blues.
Teddy Pendergrass, who died Wednesday, Jan. 13, following a long battle with cancer, was the epitome of soul. He was also one of the bona fide sex symbols of Black music. His concerts were as hot as his many hit records, especially during the peak years of his solo career, 1977 to 1982.
It was indeed a “Love T.K.O.” every time Theodore Pendergrass went into the recording studio or hit the stage. Everybody liked Teddy, but women had a special affinity for him. To put it bluntly, he excited them sexually and emotionally.
Teddy knew just what to say, as he sang passionately about closing the door, turning off the lights, taking a shower together, lighting a candle, “rubbing your back where it’s sore” and then, well, it was time to get to the “main event.”
Men never complained because in a very real sense, Pendergrass was setting the stage for them. Their ladies would be “in the mood” and, of course, many lovemaking encounters had Teddy’s music as a backdrop.
TEDDY PENDERGRASS was born March 26, 1950, in Philadelphia. By the time he reached high school, he knew that his calling was singing and performing. Like most African Americans, he did a lot of singing in church, but it was R&B that beckoned.
One of his major influences was Marvin Junior, the lead singer of the Dells whose gruff, full-of-fire voice and style Teddy patterned his after.
Pendergrass came to the public’s attention as a member of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, also from Philly, who were a hit-making machine from 1972 to 1977. Their long string of smash hits includes “I Miss You,” “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” “The Love I Lost,” “Bad Luck,” “Wake Up Everybody” and “Where Are All My Friends?”
All of these songs featured Pendergrass on lead vocals. Only one of the group’s hits, “Hope That We Can Be Together Soon,” featured someone else up front. That song was a Harold Melvin duet with Sharon Paige.
THE PROBLEM was that most of the public assumed that it was Harold Melvin they were hearing. Only the hard-core fans knew who Teddy Pendergrass was.
This “identity crisis” had much to do with Teddy going solo in 1977. And it is interesting to note that after his departure, the popularity of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes nosedived quickly and dramatically.
Pendergrass, however, became a superstar and was one of the key ingredients to the ascension of the Philadelphia International record company. After his debut, “Teddy Pendergrass,” it was one hit album after another, including “Life Is a Song Worth Singing,” “Teddy,” “It’s Time For Love,” “TP” and “Live! Coast to Coast.”
Among the chart-ruling singles were “Close the Door,” “Come Go With Me,” “I Don’t Love You Anymore,” “Turn Off the Lights,” “Can’t We Try?” and “You’re My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration.” There was also a duet hit with Stephanie Mills, “Two Hearts.”
THE PUBLIC was shocked and fans were heartbroken when Pendergrass was involved in a serious automobile accident in March of 1982. He suffered spinal cord injury which left him paralyzed from the waist down from then on.
Despite being confined to a wheel chair, he made additional records, reaching the Top 10 with “Joy,” “2 A.M.,” “It Should’ve Been You,” “Love 4/2” and a duet with Whitney Houston, “Hold Me.” He also recorded a particularly beautiful song titled “In My Time.”
In addition, in 1996 he was featured in a touring production of “Your Arms Too Short to Box With God.”
Teddy Pendergrass certainly lived an interesting life, one full of amazing highs and incredible lows. However, he was still inclined to count his blessings. In fact, his autobiography, published in 1998, was titled “Truly Blessed.”
The public was also blessed to have had a chance to enjoy one of the greatest R&B singers of all time, Teddy Pendergrass. — Jason Donovan contributed to this story.