Truly Blessed [Hardcover]

Teddy Pendergrass (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 12, 1998

Truly Blessed is legendary singer Teddy Pendergrass's riveting account of the journey that took him from a North Philadelphia ghetto to the stage of Madison Square Garden. From his first hits as lead singer of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes--"If You Don't Know Me by Now" and "The Love I Lost"--to his sizzling solo singles, including "Close the Door" and "Turn Off the Lights," Teddy was clearly special. Described as "the black Elvis," he sparked in female fans an unprecedented sexual frenzy and earned the critics' unqualified respect. Teddy seemed invincible, until a near-fatal 1982 car

accident left him partially paralyzed and wheelchair-bound. Miraculously, though, he returned: to the stage at 1985's Live Aid, to the top of the charts with 1988's "Joy," and to the millions of fans around the world who still love the sexy, charismatic man they call the Teddy Bear. Adored by millions, though known by few, Teddy reveals for the first time the real story: the early struggles; the women (some famous) and the drugs that came with fame; the circumstances around his accident and the crisis of faith that followed. Here, too, is the account of how the love of Teddy's family helped him overcome self-imposed isolation, depression, and drug abuse. Truly Blessed is a personal story of triumph--over

poverty, racism, violence, disability, and fate--and a tribute to faith, determination, and love.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Soul singer Pendergrass, called the "black Elvis," recalls his singing career and near-fatal car crash in 1982.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

The book is both a richly textured history of Pendergrass's musical roots ... and an unflinching look at what it is like to be disabled. -- The New York Times Book Review, Eric P. Nash

Product Details

• Hardcover: 319 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult (October 12, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039914420X
• ISBN-13: 978-0399144202
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #261,936 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for all hard-core Teddy Pendergrass Fans!!, September 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Truly Blessed (Hardcover)

Although I will be only 31 years old come this November (hence far too young to attend his popular "For Women Only" performances), I have been listening to Teddy Pendergrass since his days with Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes (my father and I have copies of their 1975 LP "Wake Up Everybody" - he the LP, me the CD)and his earlier solo singles (among them, "Close the Door", "Only You" and "You Can't Hide from Yourself") are pure classics - just one example of the pure, raw, unadulterated soul music that was pumping out out of Gamble and Huff's PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL RECORDS headquartered in Philadelphia. When I heard about his near fatal car crash in early 1982 and the fact that he had no movement from the neck down, my heart sanked - will Teddy Pendergrass ever be able to share his rare amazing gift of singing again? Sad to say, his albums since then does not capture the rawness that his prior recordings did (the lone exception, his 1997 CD "You and I", my review of which you will see in AMAZON.COM's music section). Although his music was a treat to the ears for me, like so many of his fans, I had a lot of misconceptions of Teddy Pendergrass; to wit, his playboy life, lavish lifestyle and his children bore out of wedlock. However, I had the opportunity during this past Labor Day weekend to visit The City of Brotherly Love and picked up this book. This book dispells all of the misconceptions and, in the process, shows the tender side of Teddy Pendergrass, the man and the human being - from his humble beginnings in North Philadelphia, his earlier, struggling days with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, his devotion to his mother, his wife, Karen, and, most remarkably, his three children to the car crash and his daily struggles as a quadraplegic. To my fellow Teddy Pendergrass fans: ignore the image, pick up this book and read it from cover to cover. You will NOT be disappointed.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honest, truthful, clear, concise, and heartwrenching, February 19, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Truly Blessed (Hardcover)

Teddy seemed to be very candid in the writing of his book. My dad was in a logging accident last year that left him unable to walk. I am the first to admit that when you (an able bodied individual) have not experienced such a tragedy it is difficult to relate to someone who has and will always continue to go through this process. My dad was very active, he was a firefighter, fished, hunted and all sorts of other hobbies that he liked to do. Reading Teddy's book provided me with more of an understanding of what a spinal cord injury patient can go through. Taking me through the process of the insensitivity of his doctor's, of not accepting the situation that he was in and simply wanting to give up is exactly what my dad is dealing with. First, all praises should go up to God for allowing Teddy, my dad, and whomever else is experiencing spinal cord injury for bestowing the opportunity upon them to live a second life. What is also important is that despite being a quadraplegic Teddy continued to find and seek out his blessings. At this stage, I believe that my dad has given up. I am hoping and praying that after I send this book to my dad for him to read that he will find the motivation to get up and move forward. Teddy, thank you for sharing your blessings in order that others who share your lifestyle may be blessed as well.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for All Hardcare Teddy Pendergrass Fans, February 27, 2002

By 

Lora J. Roberts (Washington, DC area USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Truly Blessed (Paperback)

...I have been listening to Teddy Pendergrass since his days with Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes (my father and I have copies of their 1975 LP "Wake Up Everybody" - he the LP, me the CD)and his earlier solo singles (among them, "Close the Door", "Only You" and "You Can't Hide from Yourself") are pure classics - just one example of the pure, raw, unadulterated soul music that was pumping out out of Gamble and Huff's PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL RECORDS headquartered in Philadelphia. When I heard about his near fatal car crash in early 1982 and the fact that he had no movement from the neck down, my heart sanked - will Teddy Pendergrass ever be able to share his rare amazing gift of singing again? Sad to say, his albums since then does not capture the rawness that his prior recordings did (the lone exception, his 1997 CD "You and I", my review of which you will see in AMAZON.COM's music section). Although his music was a treat to the ears for me, like so many of his fans, I had a lot of misconceptions of Teddy Pendergrass; to wit, his playboy life, lavish lifestyle and his children bore out of wedlock. However, I had the opportunity during Labor Day weekend in September, 1999 to visit The City of Brotherly Love and picked up this book. This book dispells all of the misconceptions and, in the process, shows the tender side of Teddy Pendergrass, the man and the human being - from his humble beginnings in North Philadelphia, his earlier, struggling days with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, his devotion to his mother, his wife, Karen, and, most remarkably, his three children to the car crash and his daily struggles as a quadraplegic. To my fellow Teddy Pendergrass fans: ignore the image, pick up this book and read it from cover to cover. You will NOT be disappointed.