When “Teddy Bear” Went Solo
Teddy Pendergrass – Teddy Pendergrass (Philadelphia International/CBS – 1977)
From David Ruffin’s disastrous exit from The Temptations to Chaka Khan’s mountain-moving launch from Rufus, The History of R&B Music is full of stories about singers that left groups to “go solo.”
Among the most triumphant was when Theodore “Teddy” Pendergrass stepped away from Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes with a self-titled debut solo album that delivered in spades, firing on all critical and commercial cylinders.
The year was 1977 and for the better of the decade’s years prior, Teddy had swiftly become the star lead singer of The Blue Notes.
He was originally the drummer in the group’s backup band before it was discovered he was a powerhouse singer that could lift the group from anonymity into a hit-making force for Philadelphia International Records (P.I.R.) – the mighty CBS-affiliated record company founded by songwriter/producers Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff.
This began with the 1972 chart-topping Gold-sellers “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” and “The Love I Lost” as well as “I Miss You,” “Bad Luck” and “Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back).” So galvanizing was Pendergrass’ appeal that the group’s third album for P.I.R. in Spring of 1975, To Be True, was billed as Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes featuring Theodore Pendergrass.
– A. Scott Galloway
(Mr. Galloway dedicates this piece to the memory of Black broadcasting and print journalism great Graham Armstrong; the biggest Teddy Pendergrass fan the writer has ever known.)
