Friday, January 15, 2010
Teddy Pendergrass - Years Before His Time
On January 13, 2010, the music world lost one of their own when former Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes lead singer, and one of the most sensual male vocalists in music history passed away. Teddy Pendergrass was 59 years old when he succumbed to complications related to cancer. The Philadelphia sound, associated with Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, was no more typified than through the music of the Blue Notes. However, it was as a solo where the true pioneer spirit of Teddy shone through.
Rhythm and Blues or Soul music of the 1960's and 70's was more about love and marriage. Teddy was one of the first artists who spoke more of relations and less about relationships, a trend that would not become commonplace in R&B music until the 1990's and later. Songs like "Close the Door", "Turn Off the Lights", "Come Go With Me", "Hold Me" (with Whitney Houston) and others showed the world that it was possible to be Mr. Right Now for a woman, but to do it while treating the woman with respect, and by appealing to her senses, something lacking in much of today's music. Teddy hosted a score of "Women Only" concerts, knowing that his style of music and performance would be one where men would feel out of place, and women would get the most out of it, and Teddy did these shows without incident and without rumor of indiscretion.
Teddy Pendergrass might be gone, but his music, and the style that he pioneered in the 1970's still exists today, as many of his songs have been sampled and many of today's hottest stars have tried to copy his style. There can and will always be only one Teddy. Rest in Peace.
Rhythm and Blues or Soul music of the 1960's and 70's was more about love and marriage. Teddy was one of the first artists who spoke more of relations and less about relationships, a trend that would not become commonplace in R&B music until the 1990's and later. Songs like "Close the Door", "Turn Off the Lights", "Come Go With Me", "Hold Me" (with Whitney Houston) and others showed the world that it was possible to be Mr. Right Now for a woman, but to do it while treating the woman with respect, and by appealing to her senses, something lacking in much of today's music. Teddy hosted a score of "Women Only" concerts, knowing that his style of music and performance would be one where men would feel out of place, and women would get the most out of it, and Teddy did these shows without incident and without rumor of indiscretion.
Teddy Pendergrass might be gone, but his music, and the style that he pioneered in the 1970's still exists today, as many of his songs have been sampled and many of today's hottest stars have tried to copy his style. There can and will always be only one Teddy. Rest in Peace.
