It was with great sadness that I saw on the net that Teddy Pendergrass passed away a few days ago, aged 59. As a soul fan who can forget the lead singer of Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes. Recording on Philledelphia International such great songs as “Don’t leave me this way,” not the insipid Jimmy Summerville version, but Teddy giving it the billy big bollox vocals, on the original. “Wake up everybody,” which had the album with the same name, this had a great cover of a statue with an afro. “If you don’t know me by now,” and my favourite “the love I lost.” After the Wake up everybody album he left the blue notes and pursued a solo career where he recorded such great ballads as “Turn off the light,” “Close the door” “Life is a song worth singing” and the more ballsier “Only you.”

Teddy had a great voice which was both warm and powerful at the same time, I mean who can not try give it your all when you sing along too “don’t leave me this way.” I hope you have now found the love you lost and I hope it is a sweet love.

Duncan Jan 2010