Theodore "Teddy" DeReese Pendergrass, Sr. (born March 26, 1950 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, died January 13, 2010) was an American Grammy nominated R&B soul singer-songwriter. Pendergrass' career began when he was a drummer for The Cadillacs, who soon merged with fellow soul band Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. After a stellar early 70s run including the Grammy-nominated hit If You Don't Know Me By Now, Teddy went solo in 1976. ...show more

Theodore "Teddy" DeReese Pendergrass, Sr. (born March 26, 1950 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, died January 13, 2010) was an American Grammy nominated R&B soul singer-songwriter. Pendergrass' career began when he was a drummer for The Cadillacs, who soon merged with fellow soul band Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. After a stellar early 70s run including the Grammy-nominated hit If You Don't Know Me By Now, Teddy went solo in 1976.

He released a total of fifteen solo studio albums including hits like Love T.K.O.. A car accident in 1982 damaged his spinal cord and left him paralyzed from the waist down with limited use of his arms. His initial rise to stardom occurred under tutelage of producer's Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff on the then CBS subsidiary Philadelphia International in 1970. The Blue Notes had hits such as "I Miss You," "Bad Luck," "Wake Up Everybody," the two million seller "If You Don't Know Me By Now" and many more.

Following personality conflicts between Melvin and Pendergrass, Pendergrass launched a solo career and released hit singles like "The More I Get the More I Want," "Close the Door," "I Don't Love You Anymore," "Turn Off the Lights" and others. His first solo album was self titled Teddy Pendergrass (1977), followed by Life Is A Song Worth Singing (1978), Live! Coast To Coast and Teddy (1979), 1980's TP and the final Philadelphia International Records album It's Time For Love (1981). He also sang a duet with Whitney Houston on "Hold Me," from her self-titled debut album. Teddy Pendergrass started singing gospel music in Philadelphia churches, becoming an ordained minister at ten years old. ...show less