left shoe shuffle wrote on Jan 14
th, 2010 at 9:29am:
The voice of Philly Soul.
RIP.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Teddy Pendergrass, RIP
Wake up everybody. Teddy Pendergrass is gone. The Philly soul great died at Bryn Mawr Hospital on Wednesday at 59.
Philadelphia International Records founders Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff released a statement late last night: "Teddy Pendergrass was one of the greatest artists that the music industry has ever known, and there hasn't been another one since. We've lost our voice, and we've lost our best friend, but we're thankful for what we had. It was beautiful. He was one of the best."
Here are excerpts from an interview Gamble and Huff did on WDAS on Wednesday night about the former lead singer of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes and solo superstar who paved the way for pillow talking seducers from R. Kelly to Usher. Below is a clip of Teddy P. doing "When Somebody Loves You Back" in 1979, and "Wake Up Everybody" with Melvin and the Blue Notes.
Gamble: He just had such a powerful voice.
Huff: I remember we went out to attend his first solo performance in California, we were sitting in the audience at the Roxy, and it was the first time Teddy performed live as a solo artist. That night I saw the coming of a superstar. When Teddy walked out on the stage, he didn’t even open his mouth and the place went crazy with screaming females. He was just so dynamic, and when he started singing, he just blew them away.
G: He was tall, dark and handsome. He had a magnetism about him. He’d been through some unfortunate things but he was really a strong person. He was injured 28 years ago and hung in there a long time. He was strong as a bull.
Huff: I don’t think Teddy knew his own power.
Gamble: I used to love the way he used to interpret our songs, just the way we thought they should be. I’d just like to send muy condolences out to his family, his mother, and all the people who cared about him. This was one of the greatest artists that the industry has ever known. There hasn’t been another one since – not like Teddy.
H: I call Teddy Pendergrass a rare Rembrandt painting.
G: The music was fantastic. When Teddy had his accident, he was getting ready to do movies and all kinds of things. Sidney Poitier was going to mentor him. Here’s a guy who had it all going for him. He had a voice we could really work with. I enjoyed working with him.
Huff: I always used to be on him about the words. He never would have the words. And I always would be concerned. He would really put his heart and soul into those recordings every time.
G: With all his talent and his accomplishments, Teddy remained a good, humble person. He was one of a kind. We’re shocked but I’m glad for what we had. It was beautiful. ...He was loyal to Gamble & Huff and to Philadelphia. Not many people from Philadelphia reach those heights on an international level. It’s a sad day but he’s in a better place. He doesn’t have to suffer any more. He was in the hospital for 6 months. God bless him.
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RIP Teddy Pendergrass (Read 793 times)
