An ordained minister at just 10-years-old, Teddy Pendergrass grew up belting out
gospel hymns and preaching in Philadelphia churches before becoming a leading
soul star of the 1970s. Starting out playing with The Cadillacs, he joined local
R&B group Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes as drummer but was soon promoted to
sing and front the group, and led them to stardom with the big hits If You Don't
Know Me By Now, The Love I Lost and Don't Leave Me This Way. A much-loved
central figure on the Philly Soul scene, he turned solo in 1977 with his
self-titled debut and crafted a style t...