UnSung (featuring Teddy Pendergrass)
Channel: TV One
“The Ladies Man”
Teddy P! TV One kicked off its new season of “Unsung” with an episode about the late Teddy Pendergrass. Some of you were conceived to this man’s music. With hits like “Close The Door” and “Turn Off The Lights” Pendergrass’ contributions to r & b (and the black population) are legendary. The “Unsung” episode digs into Pendergrass’ start with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. In one clip Pendergrass has a bob that looks like something you would see on a Just For Me relaxer commercial, but he is singing the hell out of “If You Don’t Know Me By Now.” Others were able to look beyond his follicle choices too because Teddy P. goes on to tremendous success as a solo artist. He becomes the first r & b artist to have five consecutive platinum albums. He is the first person to have “ladies only” shows. Piles of panties on the stage and gaggles of women in his dressing room become the norm.
TV One presents his life in two halves—pre-accident and post-accident. It plays like a cautionary tale about the dangers of fame and fortune. Pendergrass, who was known for his tremendous ego, brisk demeanor and love of women (he had three kids in 1974), is paralyzed in a car accident in 1982 at the age of 32. He never walks again and he is given seven years to live. He lives for 28 more years, finally being laid to rest in January of 2010. In that time he churns out a couple more hits and becomes an ardent family man, philanthropist and generous friend. Teddy P left the earth a changed man. TV One’s “Unsung” continues to be one of the best documentary-style shows on television.
Tyrese got Teddy P’s blessing to play him in his biopic. What do you think about that? Is Tyrese a good pick? Who would you choose to play Teddy Pendergrass?
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