Teddy Pendergrass (1950–2010) was an influential American soul and R&B singer and songwriter, known for his powerful baritone voice and charismatic stage presence. Born Theodore DeReese Pendergrass, he initially rose to fame in the 1970s as the lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, recording classics like "If You Don't Know Me by Now" under the Philadelphia International Records label. Launching a highly successful solo career in 1977, Pendergrass became the first Black male singer to record five consecutive platinum albums, establishing himself as a major sex symbol and a pioneer of the smooth, "Philly soul" sound. His solo hits include "Close the Door," "Turn Off the Lights," and "Love T.K.O." A devastating car crash in 1982 left him paralyzed from the chest down, but he courageously returned to recording in 1984 and even performed at Live Aid in 1985, cementing his legacy as a titan of R&B.
