R.I.P. Teddy Pendergrass

Teddy Pendergrass
March 26, 1950 - January 13,2010

There was a song I liked by Harold Melvin & The Blues Notes called "I Miss You" that was out in the mid-seventies... the hey day of the "Philadelphia sound" in black music. This song was the story of a guy and girl who had broken up. The guy must have run into the girl again somewhere and he starts talking to her. First it was about the little things like "I got a job now", "I've stopped drinking", and "I ran into one of your girlfriends the other day and she told me you were doing alright"... and yada yada yada.

Eventually, the narrator begins baring his soul, telling the girl what is really on his mind, how much he misses her, and how he doesn't know what to do with himself since she's been gone. It was one of those vulnerable, honest, heart-ripping songs that aren't written anymore and can't be sung by these singers who are smart enough not to call themselves "soul singers." They refer to themselves as singers of "R& B", though I beg to differ.

One night, I was in the basement of one of my friend's house and we were drinking beer, listening to the radio and talking. "I Miss You" came on and I said... "Man, that Harold Melvin sang the hell out of that song!" It was then that my friend's mother overheard us and came down in the basement and said, "That ain't Harold singing the lead... that's the drummer, Theodore Pendergrass."

I said, "What, Who? Theodore Who?" She said, "I saw them perform at the Latin Casino and the guy that plays the drums sings all of the leads. Harold sings the background vocals with the other guys. It's Harold's group but I'm telling you, it's that Pendergrass dude that be singing all them leads." And, that was my introduction to Teddy Pendergrass. The last album he did with Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (and my personal favorite) was "To Be True" and sure enough the cover read... " Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, featuring Theodore Pendergrass. I loved his big booming voice. It reminded me of Marvin Junior, the lead singer of the Dells.

Two years later, Theodore, now christened "Teddy" Pendergrass, released his first solo album, which included the hit "I Don't Love You Anymore", and I loved it! I went out and bought it and his next four or five albums. I became a fan for life. I was even more delighted to find out that we shared the same astrological sign... his birthday being two days after my own.

I'm listening to his music and all of those great Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes records as I write this post. He died yesterday... another soul great gone. It seems like all of my favorites have passed on into that sweet peace beyond the clouds, but who have they left to carry on the torch? It remains to be seen. One thing is for certain... he has left a void. Him, Gerald Levert, Michael Jackson, Barry White, Curtis Mayfield, Luther Vandross, Issac Hayes, Rick James... They are all leaving here a little sooner than I would have liked.

I have my CDs and downloads to remind me of how great music was... what real soul music was! Thank you, Teddy... thanks for great music. Rest in peace!