Teddy Pendergrass To Be Buried In His Hometown of Philadelphia
Before the official public viewing began at 12 p.m., more than 300 people had braved the cold to gather outside the church in a line that stretched around the block. The public viewing is scheduled to conclude at 8 p.m.
The private viewing for invited guests and family will take place tomorrow at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church between 9 and 10 a.m. with the memorial service set for 10 a.m. to noon. Immediately after that, Pendergrass will be buried at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in nearby Bala Cynwyd in a private ceremony for friends and family.
Pendergrass died of colon cancer Jan. 13 at a hospital near Philadelphia. The 59-year-old singer had been hospitalized for months. His son said Pendergrass had colon cancer surgery eight months ago and had “a difficult recovery.”
The R&B singer broke into the music business by joining the Blue Notes as the band’s replacement drummer. Pendergrass would go on to become the lead singer of the group, which changed its name to Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. The band’s early 1970 hits included “Wake Up Everybody” and “If You Don’t Know Me by Now.”
Pendergrass parted ways with the band to pursue a solo career, enjoying hits in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s such as “Close the Door,” “Only You,” “Turn Off the Lights,” “Love T.K.O.” and “Two Hearts.”
After a 1982 car crash left Pendergrass paralyzed from the waist down, he continued to record music, with his 13th and most recent studio album, You and I, released in 1997. He received several Grammy nominations for Best Male R&B vocal performance from 1979’s “Close the Door” to 1994’s “Voodoo.” Following his accident, Pendergrass founded the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance to help others living with spinal cord injuries.
The Rhythm & Blues Foundation released the following statement about Pendergrass following his death:
“Teddy Pendergrass was a one-of-a-kind voice and a one-of-a kind person whose contributions and impact on R&B music cannot be measured.
“His dynamic voice, impeccable style, and warm personality were truly a gift to the world. Teddy was a dear friend and colleague of the R&B Foundation, who served diligently on our Board of Directors for several years. We’re especially proud that his home town of Philadelphia is our home as well, and we applaud and cheer Teddy for his life’s work. He was truly, as one his many hit songs reminds us, one of our ‘greatest
inspirations.’”
