Legendary soul singer and Philly native Teddy Pendergrass dies at age 59
Philly native Teddy Pendergrass has died at the tender age 59. The specific circumstances leading to Teddy’s death have not yet been reported, but he had been in the hospital for the past several months after undergoing colon cancer surgery. Teddy’s son, Teddy Pendergrass II, reported that the recovery since his father’s surgery had not been going very well. In 1982, Teddy was in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. While he maintained a career on some level, his signature voice that we loved in the 70s an 80s was not quite the same.
I’m dumbfounded. We are losing so many great artists over the past year that, in my mind, are irreplaceable. How many of us might’ve been conceived to the smooth tune of “Love TKO” or “Come Go With Me” or “Turn Out the Lights” back in the day? Losing Teddy is up there with Luther Vandross in my books.
God and the angels must be enjoying a concert up in heaven to die for (no pun intended).
Here’s a video for “Wake Up Everybody” that was compiled with images of Obama during the primaries in 2008. I miss the hope and enthusiasm we had during that time. How quickly that heightened energy fades.
In any case, Teddy Pendergrass spent some time as the lead singer for Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes. “Wake Up Everybody” was released in 1975 by the group. It’s a song I remember that my mom would sing sometimes coming into my room to wake me up in the morning as a kid, although the song had so much more meaning than that. It’s as applicable today as it was back in 1975.
RIP Teddy Pendergrass (1950-2010)
Wake up everybody no more sleepin in bed
No more backward thinkin time for thinkin ahead
The world has changed so very much
From what it used to be so
there is so much hatred war an’ poverty…
Related Links
Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes official website– www.aaeg.com/bluebio.htm (you gotta visit this site, i loved it!)
Teddy Pendergrass Alliance– www.teddypendergrassalliance.org (also a must visit)
Philly Soul Classics– Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes
Ifelicious Thoughts– Throwback Friday: Teddy Pendergrass/Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes “Wake Up Everybody”
CNN– R&B singer Teddy Pendergrass dies at 59
Merced-SunStar– Car crash thwarted Pendergrass, dead in PA at 59
Black Voices– Teddy Pendergrass: Dead at 59
ABC News– R&B love crooner Teddy Pendergrass dead at 59
The Spin (TV One)– Teddy Pendergrass, dead at 59
Mia Mendez– Teddy Pendergrass passes at 59
The Urban Daily– Teddy Pendergrass’ Music lives on through sampling
