There have been many excellent soul singers in the last few decades….Al Green, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye. But for my money and definitely my era, the greatest and most charismatic of them all is the late great Teddy Pendergrass. A documentary film of his life, ‘If You Don’t Know Me By Now’ has been produced and offers considerable insight into the man’s life and work.
Like many of his peers, Teddy started singing at an early age singing gospel in church. He graduated as a lead singer in ‘Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes’. Teddy’s unique vocals, a combination of raw power and soulful intensity gave the group its undeniable pulling power with hits such as ‘If you don’t know me by now’ and ‘Wake up Everybody’. Melvin was a vain and unscrupulous character who pocketed most of the band’s earnings while gaining in fame and credibility off the back of Teddy’s masterful vocal performances. Almost inevitably, the most prominent Blue Note left to pursue a solo career.
Teddy Pendergrass was, by the late 70’s and early 80’s, the successful vocalist he always wanted to be, producing platinum albums and enjoying wealth he was denied in the Blue Notes. Displaying a raw sexual energy, his manager was the first to create Women Only concerts in which various items of lingerie were thrown on stage. Men wanted to be like him and women wanted to be with him. The hilarious Lenny Henry sketches featuring a bare-chested singing idol called Theophilus P. Wildebeeste was said to be based on Teddy Pendergrass. He personified the Philadelphia music scene and became the very heart of soul. But then his rise and rise to superstardom came head to head with disaster.
In 1982, he crashed the car he was driving and became paralysed from the neck down. Wheelchair bound, this most physical of singers sank into a depression. With the help of friends and family, he emerged from his situation and, while never able to walk again, he still managed to produce a series of award winning albums. His crowning achievement was an appearance in his wheelchair at the American Live Aid concert held in his home town of Philadelphia. It was an emotional moment for all and testimony to the man’s strength of purpose.
The film features a host of people who played such an integral part in his life….his devoted mother, the surviving Blue Notes, members of the Teddy P band, ex girlfriends and his grown up kids. There is also a series of taped recordings featuring the man himself. But most of all, some terrific footage of his concert performances, bursting with energy and passion, a man at the top of his game.
Theodore DeReese ‘Teddy’ Pendergrass died at the age of 59 in 2010 leaving behind an extraordinary legacy
Remember to Live 