Teddy Pendergrass

Teddy Pendergrass was among the premier singers of his time, a Philly soul great whose gruff baritone voice was suited equally for vigorous grooves and (sometimes literally) commanding ballads. Installed as Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' drummer in 1970, Pendergrass soon entered the spotlight with the group, and fronted it through nine Top Ten R&B hits that included "I Miss You" and the chart-topping trio of "If You Don't Know Me by Now," "The Love I Lost," and "Wake Up Everybody." Pendergrass outgrew the Blue Notes but remained with Philadelphia International Records, whose ...