PRI dropped him after its financial problems began in the 1980s. He signed with Asylum on the strength of a demo Luther Vandross helped him prepare. In 1984, Pendergrass overcame the depression that had gripped him to produce Love Language, his first outing with his different, but still recognizable, voice. By 1988, he was satisfied enough with his singing and life to name an Elektra album Joy. His recordings for Asylum and Elektra affirmed his ability to still be Teddy Pendergrass, despite having a less powerful voice. Several songs from them charted and resulted in Grammy nominations, including "Hold Me," a duet with Whitney Houston, "2 AM," and "Joy," which was the top hit on the Rhythm and Blues charts in 1988. The videos for "Joy" and "2 AM" were also ground-breaking, presenting a man in a wheelchair as an object of desire.
Pendergrass returned to performing at Live Aid in 1985. He toured with a revival of the gospel play "Your Arms Too Short to Box With God" the next year. But, the vocalist, who hates the thought of being pitied, has remained ambivalent about public appearances. He most recently appeared live in concert in 2001 and 2002, and, produced a video of himself performing, From Teddy With Love, in 2003.
Pendergrass is a realist. He has no illusions about the fragility that comes with being a quadriplegic. Hospitalizations over the years have convinced him that he must defer to his health despite his love of performing. The singer is also wary of the hype sometimes associated with curing paralysis, noting that the technology currently promoted was around during his rehabiliation in the 1980s, and, still has little practical application. Despite his recurrent problems with depression, Pendergrass refuses to grasp at straws. He is determined to live life as fully as possible in his wheelchair, instead of waiting for a cure.
Truly Blessed is an impressive book. I was really struck by Pendergrass' intelligence. Though he completed high school and college, that wasn't until he was in his 30s and 40s. But for his extraordinary singing talent, he is the kind of urban black man who would have been consigned to the lowest ranks of employment in our society. Yet, hidden behind the superficial characteristics people base such judgments on, was a fine mind all along. I also like Pendergrass' personality. He is a loner, almost obsessively independent. Much of the tension he experiences with needing around-the-clock assistance is those traits in direct conflict with forced dependence and lack of privacy. Furthermore, the Philly home boy, as they say in the vernacular, don't take no s---. Some of the most telling episodes in the autobiography are about Pendergrass rejecting patronization based on race and, later, disability.
Article comments
1 - freddie pendergrass
Dear Teddy, the Pendergrass family in Greenville SC want very much to communicate with you. We are having a family reunion 8/31/07 - 9/2/07 in Greenville Sc. for details log onto Pendergrass Family. We are not trying to get anything from you we just want to fellowship and get to know all of the family better. Please contact me back.
[Personal contact info deleted] All Pendergrasses are related.
2 - Connie Morris-Moore
Dear Teddy,
How are you doing? I have not seen you since August 17, 2001; when you did the concerts in New York. I gots tickets for both of your shows; the Thursday nite show at the Beacon Theatre and the Friday nite show at Westbury Music Fair. I wrote you a letter and sent you a rose. I gave it to your daughter. Then I was informed that you said that I could meet you. And, I was granted the wonderful opportunity to meet you. I TOLD YOU THEM AND I AM TELLING YOU NOW, "I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!! I THINK OF YOU ALL THE TIME; AND I PRAY FOR YOU". I really think if I did not have your music to get me thorough life, I would not be where I am today. You helped me thorough the power of song! I LOVE YOU. Please keep in touch.
3 - Delores Lewis
Hello Teddy:
Just wanted to write you to find out more information about your foundation, and also to see if you could say a few words of encourgement to my brothers. Let me explain; My brother name is freddie and he will be 50 years old this year. He was shot 25 year ago at the age of 25. He has been paralized from the waist down for the last 25 years. He has always had help and it seemed like up until now he has coped with this situation pretty well. My 25 year old brother was his caregiver for the last 2 years and has helped freddie with life in the wheel chair. Well my second brother name is Roy, he is 26 years old now. Last year Roy was shot at age 25 and paralized from the waist down. This set the whole family back so far especially Freddie. What are the chances of having 2 brothers shot and put in a wheel chair after their 25th birthday. It actually killed my mother she died of a heart attack 4 months after Roy came home in the Wheel Chair. She could not take the stress of taking care of the both of them. Living your life is almost impossible without a wheel chair accessible home. I want to know if your foundation or any other organization will help my brothers with a handicapped accessible house. I need some help with getting them in and out of the house. Please write me back . I'm in Chicago looking to relocate to Tennesse.
4 - Deborah
Iwould like for you if possible to send my e-mail address to the lady name Deloris Lewis who sent in a e-mail to you on January 10th 2008 with the mention of her two brother both at the age of 25 get shot and paralized Iwould like to commicate with her if possible thank you Deborah
5 - Michael
Hi Teddy, I live in the Uk and would love to know if you will ever perform on stage again as I would come all the way over from England to see you. I hope you are well and your health is as it can be. I have loved your music from the very early days and I love it still, it is my lifes ambition to see you perform and I hope I am not too late. Kindest regards Michael
6 - Ray Ellis
Considering he's dead, it's doubtful he'll be performing anywhere.
7 - Michael
Where did you get this information from? All the sources i have seen tell me he's very much alive!
8 - CYNTHIA
JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW TEDDY PENTERGLASS DOING IN 2008.
9 - Lily
Hi Teddy, how is it going?
Just wondering if we'd ever see you perform The Power of One live in South Africa, you know the connection...!
10 - Lily
Ray Ellis - you need help as a matter of urgency. What makes you think you'd be the first to know that? Please..., we don't need this.
11 - gloria b fluker
Hello Teddy!
I have been trying to contact you.
It's been a lifetime ago.
Please contact me!
Glory B
12 - Michael Ludford
Please can you tell me if Teddy receives these messages? I've left notes before but i never have any replies! Sorry to be a pain but i would reallllly love to know how Teddy is.
Michael from the UK thank you.
13 - El Bicho
"Please can you tell me if Teddy receives these messages? I've left notes before but i never have any replies!"
You answered your own question.
14 - Michael Ludford
Love your name El Bicho! Seems a waste of a site if that's true what you say?
Any suggestions on how you can mail the man?
15 - El Bicho
Thanks, ML. i would suggest you google him and see if you can learn who his agent or manager is and contact them
16 - leah peadergrass
I love you.you are the one I have in
my life.LOVE YOU.
I didno't know you where
my uncle I LOVE YOU TEDDY
17 - loyal
would love to know how Mr Pendergrass is doing in
2008. Love your songs Sir.
18 - Lotus Gossip
:(. Poor Teddy.
19 - Pynki
I wondered what had happened to Teddy P.....he was every school girl's heart throb in the 1980's. A Truly Blessed man indeed. Have my condolences.