Theodore DeReese "Teddy" Pendergrass

 Theodore DeReese "Teddy" Pendergrass (March 26, 1950 – January 13, 2010)

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he started singing gospel music in Philadelphia churches at a young age, becoming an ordained minister at ten years old. He soon taught himself to play several instruments and he joined several local musical groups in Philadelphia. Pendergrass's professional music career began when he was a drummer for The Cadillacs, which merged with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in 1969. The group had hit songs such as "I Miss You", "Bad Luck", and "Wake Up Everybody". After leaving the group over monetary disputes in 1976, Pendergrass launched a successful solo career under the Philadelphia International label, releasing five consecutive platinum albums, then a record for an African-American R&B artist. He had hit singles with "The More I Get the More I Want", "Close The Door", "I Don't Love You Anymore", "Turn Out The Lights", and more. He also began his practice of ladies-only concerts, for which he remains well known. Pendergrass's career was suspended after a March 1982 car crash that left him paralyzed from the chest down. After completing physical therapy, he returned to public appearances on July 13, 1985 at the historic Live Aid concert in Philadelphia and continued to record throughout the 1980's and 1990's. Pendergrass retired from the music business in 2007. On June 5, 2009, Pendergrass underwent successful surgery for colon cancer and returned home to recover. A few weeks later he returned to the hospital with respiratory issues. After seven months, he died of respiratory failure on January 13, 2010, age 59. Pendergrass is buried at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.