Thursday, January 14, 2010

Teddy Pendergrass Gone!

I was absolutely shocked to learn that R&B legend Teddy Pendergrass had died last night in a Philadelphia suburban hospital at 59. According to his son, Teddy had been suffering from colon cancer. Little did I know that when I was listening to "Love TKO" last night that Teddy may have been breathing his last breaths of life. Teddy P. was born in my hometown of Philly, and simply had one of the classic voices of all time. His career nearly slowed to a halt after he suffered a near fatal car accident in 1982 that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Teddy started out as the lead singer of Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, and his lead vocals can be heard on the signature song "Wake Up Everybody" a song that still resonates today as an anthem for black people.

Teddy Pendergrass leaves a legacy that will probably become bigger in his death. His name belongs right at the top of the Mount Rushmore of R&B male singers.

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