Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don’t Know Me 9.45pm, BBC Two. Benjamin H. Smith is a New York based writer, producer and musician. I had my strength back.". The other time they met was at a popular club in Philadelphia, where Watson was working as a nightclub entertainer and model. The concert became the album From Teddy, With Love, which was released on the Razor & Tie record label later that year. Instead of talking with Pendergrass, Watson says she ran away. How to Watch the Bob Odenkirk Movie, Gal Gadot Used Princess Diana as Inspiration for Wonder Woman, Stream It Or Skip It: 'Lupe' On HBO Max, A Drama That Explores Themes Of Immigration & Transgender Identity, Stream It Or Skip It: 'So My Grandma's A Lesbian!' Friends claim other cars of his had been found with their brake lines cut and vandalized. "The doctor started giving me Valium, and the Valium made me feel like I could deal with things better. It was never recorded and within a month his life would turn upside down. Watson, too, kept quiet. "Teddy was a big star," she remembers. 'The Circle': What Time Will New Episodes of Season 2 Be Added to Netflix? Two days after the accident, news broke of Watson's past, including the gender confirmation surgery she'd undergone five years prior ("I don't think Teddy knew about my transition at all," she says today) and her multiple arrests for prostitution. A self-taught drummer, Pendergrass had a teen pop vocal group when he was 15. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Rated TVMA • 106 minutes. What Time Is ‘All American’ on Tonight? That's when Watson and Pendergrass came face to face for the first time in three decades. 'Mare of Easttown' Series Premiere Recap: Easttown and Down, 'Mare of Easttown' Episode 1 Introduces the Most Sympathetic Murder Victim Since 'Twin Peaks' Laura Palmer, 'The Circle': How to Get Cast on Season 3, New Movies + Shows to Watch this Weekend: 'The Circle' on Netflix + More. What Time Will '9-1-1' and '9-1-1: Lone Star' Premiere Tonight? His first post-accident video, “In My Time,” found him singing from his wheelchair. He met his father only once, at the age of 11, before he was murdered. Will There Be a Season 2 of 'The Baker and Beauty' on Netflix? Pendergrass says learning he was a paraplegic was the lowest he’d ever been. Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter. As a solo artist, Pendergrass put his good looks to good use while singing about love and lust in explicit terms. Follow him on Twitter:@BHSmithNYC. After the murder of manager and girlfriend Tazz Lang, he hooked up with Alice Cooper manager Shep Gordon, who’s winning pitch was “I get as high as you but I keep it together and I make sure I have the cash.” Gordon envisioned Pendergrass as “The Black Elvis,” and booked a series of concerts “…For Women Only,” serving them chocolate teddy bear lollipops at the door to “get them crazy.” It worked like a charm. 1,258, This story has been shared 734 times. Though there were no other vehicles involved in the crash, there was a passenger in Pendergrass' car. I got hooked on them," Watson admits. Brinkley. 'The Nevers' Episode 2 Ending Explained: Who's the Real Villain? The album went gold. It was out of control," Watson says. Today is National Voter Registration Day! If it at times flirts with conspiracy theories with little factual background, its portrait of Pendergrass himself is authentic and definitive. "He called me over to his car -- it was a Rolls Royce," Watson says. Though it’s all conjecture, Pendergrass’ run-ins with the Philadelphia Black Mafia, who allegedly murdered Lang, and the Philadelphia Police Department, who he was sueing at the time of the crash, give cause for wonder. Rumors swirled that he was drunk (he wasn’t) and with a transgender woman (he was and so what?). With his remarkable talent, striking good looks and burning sexuality, the 31-year-old R&B singer was on the verge of crossing over into the pop mainstream when tragedy struck. Coast to Coast) and final live album. “They took that sheet off of his face and Teddy sat up in that chair and said ‘I don’t want to die.’ He said, ‘I want to live,” wife Karen Still tells us. When Pendergrass went solo, Melvin asked Gamble and Huff to drop him. "Then I noticed he was struggling with the wheel, and all of a sudden I heard this great big bang.". 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Documentary charting the life, music and towering achievements of soul singer Teddy Pendergrass, from his origins and early life in Philadelphia, through his … He considered suicide and may have gone through with it if not for the help of psychotherapist Dr. Dan Gottlieb, himself a quadriplegic. 158, This story has been shared 156 times. You couldn't get any bigger than he was, and he was a very handsome man, I must say. “Teddy Pendergrass – If You Don’t Know Me,” the upcoming feature documentary that tells the tumultuous life story of the R&B and soul legend, will go out on Showtime in the U.S. and… "I just left.". I remember Teddy Pendergrass’ accident and the shock waves it sent through popular music. She said, 'If you want to talk to Teddy his out in the car.'". 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Silken-voiced and impossibly smooth, Teddy Pendergrass was one of the biggest stars … With a documentary about his life titled You Don't Know Me out now, we take a look back at the life of an underrated talent, and how a devastating accident didn't stop him. Where to Watch the Movie ‘Monday’ Starring Sebastian Stan, Stream It Or Skip It: 'The Soul' on Netflix, a Taiwanese Potboiler Blending Elements of Horror, Sci-fi, Mystery and Melodrama. Harold Melvin Teddy Pendergrass Bernard Wilson Lawrence Brown Lloyd Parks Teddy Pendergrass overcame many challenges in life. This story has been shared 1,435 times. While it’s bittersweet to contemplate what might have happened if not for his accident, his mark on modern music is undeniable and his legacy is substantial and secure. Her name was Tenika Watson, a nightclub … Her name was Tenika Watson, a nightclub performer and transgender woman. That's when both of their lives would change. 734, This story has been shared 543 times. 543, This story has been shared 537 times. 'The Circle' on Netflix: Where Was Season 2 Filmed? 'Mystery Woman' Involved In Teddy Pendergrass' Paralyzing Accident Speaks Out, 30 Years Later (VIDEO), Leni Sinclair/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images. In light of these facts, rumors swirled that Watson and Pendergrass were intimately involved during the moment of the crash. Pendergrass was the African-American artist to record five consecutive platinum albums, which include Life Is a Song Worth Singing (1978) and Teddy (1979). They refused. "hopefully I'll stay away," doesn't sound too convincing. A&E's 'WWE Legends' Documentary Live Stream: How To Watch 'Biography: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin' Live. Celebrities died young, that was nothing new, but you never saw them get sick or injured. At first, there were rumors and speculation about the cause and details surrounding the accident, but Pendergrass remained focused on his recovery and his music. He had just exited the group that gave him … ©2021 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Pendergrass died in 2010 of colon cancer. Part of MultiCultural/HPMG News. Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don't Know Me review – soul star stories . 384, This story has been shared 380 times. "The next thing I know, the press was there," she says. In 1982, charismatic soul singer Teddy Pendergrass was at the peak of his career when he slammed his Rolls Royce into a tree, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. "I thought he was a pimp because I wasn't used to people really having Rolls Royces.". Teddy Pendergrass had one of the most powerful soul voices of all time, both during his time with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, and his successful solo career. But it was the closure that I needed," she says. By his late teens, Pendergrass was a … -- but he wasn't. In October of 2016 the TJPF organized an Exhibition at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, where we showcased Teddys Memorabilia. While friends enlisted to fight in Vietnam rather than take their chances as a young black man on the streets of “Philthy-delphia,” Pendergrass says, “I never felt hopeless like that.”. Pendergrass became an ordained minister at the age of 10 and learned how to hold an audience in the palm of his hand. Tyrese Gibson will star as singer-songwriter Teddy Pendergrass in a biopic set up with Warner Bros., which has acquired the life rights to the late singer. I was clean and sober, and I had me back. The two struck up a conversation and when Watson said it was time for her to go home, Pendergrass offered her a ride. Like many Pendergrass fans, Watson admired the popular artist. ", In 2002, Watson finally got her chance to meet with Pendergrass. "There wasn't. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. She said, 'Well, you're not going to see him before his son does,' and she caused this big scene," Watson says. As a vocalist, Pendergrass could plead like Wilson, had a rasp like David Ruffin and knew how to put a song over like Otis Redding, grinding out a phrase and going from the top to the bottom of his range for dramatic effect. Teddy Pendergrass – If You Don’t Know Me still. A new documentary about seminal soul singer Teddy Pendergrass, If You Don’t Know Me, will premiere February 8th at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime. In support of the feature-length documentary ‘Teddy Pendergrass – If You Don’t Know Me’, Mixmag presents ‘Teddy Pendergrass: The Remixes’. February is the month for lovers and February 21 is the date on which a full length feature length documentary will be released on Teddy Pendergrass – If You Don’t Know Me.The documentary will tell the powerful and moving story of R&B soul legend, who … "His music was always playing. Seeing Jackie Wilson at the age of 13 showed him what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. ", Back then, Watson, a former sex worker, lived near the studio where Pendergrass recorded his music, and one day, she saw him walking down the street. This documentary explores the rise of Teddy Pendergrass, the first male African American artist to record five consecutive platinum albums against the backdrop of 1960s America, and his comeback after a life-changing accident. “Business is business,” Gamble says. 'Riverdale': Cheryl and Veronica Team up in This Exclusive Comics Preview, Stream It Or Skip It: 'Songbird' on Hulu, a Slapdash Thriller Hoping to Profit on COVID Paranoia, 7 Shows Like 'Big Sky' to Watch While You're Waiting for New Episodes. © 2021 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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In truth, most probably do not know much of the detail, but thankfully a long overdue documentary, entitled Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don’t Know Me, is available on Blu-ray, DVD, and VOD as of September 13th through MVD Visual. While attending public school, he sang in the citywide McIntyre Elementary School Choir and in the All-City Stetson Junior High School Choir. An electrifying figure in his live performances and physical presence, the idea of him wheelchair bound for the rest of his life seemed a fate worse than death; Pendergrass would come close to taking his own life. 243, This story has been shared 222 times. In the wake of the accident, questions emerged about this mystery woman. "The hardest thing for me to read was for them to insinuate that there was a sex act going [on]," she says. The story of his rise to fame and comeback from the brink is the subject of the Showtime documentary Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don’t Know Me. By 1982, Teddy Pendergrass was one of the biggest stars in R&B and Americas’s preeminent black sex symbol. In the wake of the accident, questions emerged about this mystery woman. Pendergrass did a concert at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, California, on February 14, 2002, entitled "The Power of Love". 'Them' Director Nelson Cragg Breaks Down the Horror Series' Most Intense Scenes, Deborah Ayorinde Is a Revelation in 'Them', 'Falcon and Winter Soldier' Easter Eggs: 5 Things You May Have Missed in Episode 5. 222, This story has been shared 158 times. Teddy Pendergrass started singing gospel music in Philadelphia churches, becoming an ordained minister at ten years old. Directed by Olivia Lichtenstein. Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don't Know Me . "I had been through a lot and I'm sure he had too. “One guy said to me: ‘Teddy Pendergrass was an early form of Viagra,’” says Olivia Lichtenstein, the documentary’s director. Teddy Pendergrass was riding high in early 1982. Though Melvin got top billing, Pendergrass was the lead singer, leading to confusion and resentment. Teddy Pendergrass Car Accident - What Happened?In 1982, Teddy Pendergrass was on top of the world. Pendergrass’ goal now became to sing again. 147, This story has been shared 125 times. In 1982, charismatic soul singer Teddy Pendergrass was at the peak of his career when he slammed his Rolls Royce into a tree, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. "So I got myself together and went to where his mother was. "First, the car started speeding up really fast, and I was wondering, 'Was he driving fast?' But just the wording in your post is setting yourself up for failure. In 1985, he performed live for the first time in three years in front of a global audience of millions at Live Aid in Philadelphia. He didn’t leave much else. 537, This story has been shared 384 times. A feature music documentary about the rise and resurrection of soul superstar Teddy Pendergrass Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don’t Know Me is well crafted and richly detailed and will appeal to both longtime fans and new listeners. Pendergrass’ rise from street kid to putative pop star is perfectly chronicled in Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don’t Know Me, a new feature-length film about the singer’s colourful life. }, Like Us On Facebook | Follow Us On Twitter. 5 talking about this. It was his second (after Live! It was an amazing moment that we are hoping to do again. With Teddy Pendergrass, Sammy Davis Jr., Ida Pendergrass, Mikido Soto Jr.. "I went to the hospital where he was and there was a woman there. We made it easy for you to exercise your right to vote! The next moments were a blur. She didn't stay, however, and only learned about Pendergrass' paralysis when it was reported in the newspapers. In fact, in the 30 years since the accident, Watson has rarely spoken about what happened that day or about the nature of her relationship with Pendergrass. Tap here to turn on desktop notifications to get the news sent straight to you. 156, This story has been shared 147 times. There’s also an outstanding car loan and a lawsuit by a former songwriting partner. "Someone called me that knew Teddy's mother and they said, 'Tenika, you have to get here quick because Teddy's mother wants to see you,'" she says. PHILADELPHIA — Teddy Pendergrass left an indelible music legacy when he died in January. How to Watch Season 3, Episode 10 Live, Morrissey Calls Out 'The Simpsons' "Unapologetically Hurtful and Racist" Parody. 352, This story has been shared 338 times. A late night car crash would leave him paralyzed from the chest down. But Teddy Pendergrass was stronger than that. 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And Then The Pandemic Happens, ‘Arlo the Alligator’ Sequel: Good News, There’s An 'Arlo' Animated Series Coming To Netflix, Is 'Shrek' On Netflix? ", Watson was dropped by her modeling agency before her career could even get off the ground and says that she was forced back into sex work to support herself. On the night of March 18, 1982, Pendergrass was in a car crash after the brakes on his Rolls Royce failed. A mock funeral was staged, where Pendergrass wore a sheet over his head while loved ones told him how his death would affect them. Raised by a single mother, he grew up in the ghettos of Philadelphia where you were either “predator or prey,” according to childhood friend L.T. The world first heard Pendergrass as a member of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, part of “The Philly Sound,” curated by the writing and production team of Kennth Gamble and Leon Huff. A live performance from Feb. 1982 shows Pendergrass taking the song to vocal and emotional heights unimaginable in Rogers’ version. Soon after the accident, Watson tried to reach out to Pendergrass, but was unsuccessful. He would record 6 more albums, 4 of which went gold, before his death in 2010 at the age of 59. 'Mare of Easttown' Cast Guide: Who's Who In The HBO Kate Winslet Detective Drama? 1,435, This story has been shared 1,258 times. "Oprah: Where Are They Now?" 125. When Will 'Mortal Kombat' Be Released On HBO Max? She also became addicted to drugs. ET on OWN. Teddy Pendergrass was known as the “Black Elvis.” He was the first black male singer to record five consecutive multi-platinum albums in the U.S. Taaz Lang, his first manager (and also lover) was killed outside her home in 1978. A bank foreclosed on his Penn Valley, Pa., home over the summer — the property is slated for sheriff’s sale next month. Teddy Pendergrass … This documentary explores the rise of Teddy Pendergrass, the first male African American artist to record five consecutive platinum albums against the backdrop of 1960s America, and his comeback after a life-changing accident. @media only screen and (min-width : 500px) {.ethanmobile { display: none; }
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