R&B love crooner Teddy Pendergrass dead at 59

PHILADELPHIA,  (Reuters) – Teddy Pendergrass, the  seductive American rhythm-and-blues singer who continued his  recording career after he was paralyzed in a 1982 car accident,  has died at the age of 59, media reports said yesterday.

Pendergrass’s son, Teddy Pendergrass II, told the  Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper that his father died on  Wednesday at a Philadelphia-area hospital. He had undergone  colon cancer surgery eight months ago and his son said he had a  difficult recovery.

Pendergrass began his career as a drummer but first rose to  fame in the 1970s when he became lead singer of Harold Melvin &  the Blue Notes, which had hits such as “If You Don’t Know Me by  Now” and “I Miss You.”

After leaving the Blue Notes for a solo career, he had a  string of hit love ballads that were considered musical  aphrodisiacs by his fans. His solo hits, notable for his smooth  baritone and sensual delivery, included “I Don’t Love You  Anymore,” “Close the Door,” “Turn off the Lights” and “Love  TKO.”