Recently, buzz started brewing that popular R&B crooner Teddy Pendergrass was on his deathbed.
BV Newswire sought out to find the truth.
The Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter has been hospitalized at Philadelphia's Bryn Mawr Hospital and is admittedly enduring a health crisis. The 59-year-old singer has been there for about a month, and the nature of his illness is not publicly known.
He and his new wife, Joan, addressed the rumors and expressed gratitude to his loyal legion of fans.
"I wish to thank my fans for their prayers, concerns and love," Pendergrass disclosed in a statement. "While I have faced recent health challenges, I am in the care of my wonderful doctors, wife Joan and family."
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"We ask at this time that you respect our privacy," the statement continued. "Do know that I'm looking forward to continuing my work at the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance to help people with spinal cord injuries."
Since becoming quadriplegic following a horrific 1982 car accident, the Kingstree, South Carolina native (real name: Theodore DeReese Pendergrass) has been actively involved in improving the lives of others suffering spinal cord injuries through the Spinal Cord Injury Association. The former Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes front man celebrated his successful music career in 2007 at "Teddy 25."
"This year, believe it or not, marks the 25th anniversary of a horrific automobile accident that drastically changed my life forever," the 'The More I Get, the More I Want' singer announced during the event. "Instead of being saddened by this milestone, I am deeply overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude to all the people who have helped me overcome the many fears and difficulties I would ultimately encounter as a disabled person."
Comments: (81)
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By: Black Moses on 8/08/2009 12:42AM
Losing them and we no longer produce them. What a special people Blacks were. A unique and talented individuals like Mr. Pendegrass makes this crystal clear. It was a fun time to be Black. I miss us, I miss our cool that was natural and fluid. Thanks for the good times Mr. Pendergrass and may the Ancestors bless your health. I will be praying for you brotha. You showed a lot of character by not withdrawing after your tragedy. You are a prime example that life is for the living, so live.
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By: Sus7637 on 8/08/2009 8:20PM
Yeah it sure is pathetic and a tragedy about how blk ppl are now. the togetherness is long gone, the blk man and blk woman love, proudness and pride is long lost and cuput! long gone are the blk woman with the fros, the cornbraids, when everything today with most of them are weaves weaves weaves.... which is their perogative. long gone are proud blk men with self love for themselves and the blk woman. the artists today suck big time, and have no uniqueness about them and no bands. its all about competition and trying to sound like the next blk act to get ahead and get rich. whatta tragedy and a nightmare that isn't a dream but true.
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By: Milayah on 8/10/2009 1:31PM
You want to know what is so pathetic, it's your SPELLING! You used the word "cornbraid"? Oh, we trying to be funny? You mean "Corn Roll"! Your comments are way of topic. Please don't bring black folks into the mix. It has nothing to do with the blog. Irrelevant. If you don't
know nothing about Teddy or you can't comprehend what the blog is about, Don't make comment. Anyways, I hope that Teddy has a full recovery!
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By: Milayah on 8/10/2009 1:35PM
I meant to say in my comment, "off topic".
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By: Lena on 8/12/2009 11:00PM
Amen to everything you said.
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By: EbonyLeaf on 8/13/2009 12:23PM
Damn, I wish I was around in the 70's! To bad I had to born in the 80's and now get stuck listening to all of the garbage that on radios now! Long gone are the days to true RnB crooners like Teddy P, or shall I say the real Teddy Pendergrass!!!
I agree with Black Moses and your post... Black people were at their best in those days. I just wish I was there to witness it!
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By: grammarlady on 8/15/2009 9:26AM
Oh, Milayah dear, since you went off on Sus7637, I'm going to have to correct your grammar, which leaves a lot to be desired.
INCORRECT: “You want to know what is so pathetic” (missing verb)
CORRECT: “Do you want to know what is so pathetic”
INCORRECT: “Corn Roll” (nonstandard use based on mispronunciation)
CORRECT: “Corn row,” “corn braid” or “plait”
INCORRECT: “Oh, we trying to be funny?” (missing verb)
CORRECT: “Oh, are we trying to be funny?”
INCORRECT: “Irrelevant.” (missing verb, missing noun)
CORRECT: “It is irrelevant.”
INCORRECT: “If you don't know nothing about Teddy” (double negative)
CORRECT: If you don't know anything about Teddy”
INCORRECT: “Don't make comment.” (unclear use of word “comment,” which is both a verb and a noun)
CORRECT: “Don’t comment” or “Don’t make comments” or “Don’t make a comment”
INCORRECT: “Anyways” (nonstandard use of adverb)
CORRECT: “Anyways”
In the future, please don't hate, participate!
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By: grammarlady on 8/15/2009 9:31AM
CORRECT: “Anyway”
Enjoy! :)
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By: grammarlady on 8/15/2009 9:51AM
CORRECT: “Anyway”
Enjoy! :)
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By: Derrick Barnett on 8/17/2009 1:51PM
Sus7637 you sound like a damn fool. And next time you waste our time with one of your dumb comments please get your grammar and spelling in order first. Black people for all the s_ _t we have gone through in this country and continue to deal with in this country are strong, beautiful, creative people. We have faults just like anyother race of people. But on the whole Im proud to be a Black man. If we were so messed up as you say, why is it that every white man is tryin to date a sister and even white women cant leave black men like Reggie Bush, Kobe Bryant,etc alone.
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