Customer Reviews

Truly Blessed

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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.

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.

...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.

This book was an amazing inspiration! The author does a wonderful job of capturing the subjects life--good and bad to show just how strong the spirit of God can work in ones life. The author also shares with us the struggles one man went through to evolve as a God-fearing, positive person. Kudos to the author for shedding light on such an outstanding person.

...just curious...maybe (hopefully) it's his wife's hand...what an INCREDIBLE woman she is...perhaps the most impressive person in his autobiography, aside from his mother. Just finished reading this book yesterday...after staring at the cover for a while (yeah...like it was gon MOVE or somethin'...or like he was gon actually BLINK!)...the cover alone can capture you --- especially if, like me, you are a true Teddy fan. I think I just recently evolved into one, however...it's like his music is f.g.f.o. (for grown folks only), and I just recently grew up...hey, what can I say? It took me til my thirties to really appreciate where this man is coming from.
...so of course I had to pick up the book...there was no me getting away from it, or it getting away from me. Admittedly, it's probably the best autobiography I've read in a while, written in straight forward language and sprinkled with humor. Some of what he shares is surprising, some of it not so surprising, but all of it is revealing, and I know it took a lot for him to share all that he did of himself, and I really appreciate that. I had just turned 13 the same month he had the car accident that left him a quadriplegic (sp?), and I remember well all the speculations and the news reports. Though I was young, I remember how much his accident really impacted me. I think in a way, reading this book, I grieved his loss all over again...(I was in such a sad mood all day yesterday...just couldn't seem to shake it)... after all, he is telling his own story here...no more speculations or rumors...just his words. I hurt that he --- or anyone --- would have to go through such a painful ordeal. As for anyone, my only hope and prayer is that he's grown through it, and has become, or is becoming, more of the person God wants him to be. I can only imagine, though, the limitations those who are physically challenged must face, and reading this book has given me a new appreciation for that, for which I'm thankful. I think there are so many things that we all take for granted day in and day out. Hopefully, we will open our eyes to see how Truly Blessed we all are, too...just as much as Teddy is.

This book moved me like none other in years and I read at least 2 to 3 books a month. I felt when I read it as if I were sitting across from Teddy and he was telling me how it felt to have a woman throw panties at him for the very first time. How it felt to be the front man for Harold Melvin & the Blues Notes for the first time. I also found how deep the scars are when your life is changed in a twinkle of an eye. I felt how painful it must have felt when a woman looked at him and said "F*ck you, you crippled motherf*cker." The book came alive for me and I knew for the first time why I was so moved when I was 18 years old and heard for the first time "Singer Teddy Pendergrass is paralyzed." Yes, I bought his albums and remember playing his live "8-track" over and over again. The reason I was so moved that day in 82' is becasue Teddy to me was my manhood. He was "our" manhood. He could be sensitive yet masculine. He could be both sexy and spiritual and be genuinely true to both. But what I learned after reading his book is that even now, all of the things he was, he is even more so. He is even more sexy and sensitive and masculine and spiritual becasue after reading the book I found out that Teddy was comfortable with himself.

Teddy Pendergrass to me is still and will always be the true essence of manhood.

I'm more impressed with Teddy after reading the story of his life, and his tribulations. He embodies true class and grace.

Pendergrass provides a thoughtful, heartfelt and honest account of his life. His story is one of triumph over obstacles, betrayals and disappointments. His accomplishment of obtaining five consecutive Platinum records between 1977 and 1981 was unprecedented at that time. By 1982, he was the leading male R & B singer. But all of this changed on March 18, 1982, just eight days before his thirty-second birthday, when on a windy road in Philadelphia, he hit a guard rail after the brakes failed on his Rolls Royce. He severed his spinal cord in the accident, which left him paralyzed form the waist down.

I was most interested in his life following the life-altering car accident. How did he manage to not give up? How did this traumatic event change him and his life perspective? What pearls of wisdom did he have to offer those of us who find ourselves "newly" disabled? I highly recommend this book for both caregivers and those facing physical disability challenges. I found that Pendergrass gave words to my thoughts and feelings in ways I've been unable to express to those who knew me "before" my injury and who still relate to me as I were still that person.

Thank you, Teddy Pendergrass, may you rest in power!

I grow up listening to teddy pendergrass my whole life being born and raised in philadelpia in was born 1981 my mother would joke it was because of teddy pendergrass i am alive....but after reading the back i was enlighted with the life behind the music the book was touching heartbreaking and wonderful all at the sametime...its a must read teddy is an icon and hero rip....!

I recently received this book and read it in two days. In short, I was truly moved by the late Teddy Pendergrass' story. From his humble upbringing in North Philadelphia, to his rise to the top of the soul music charts, to his tragic accident, Teddy illustrates it all from his perspective wonderfully. His love and devotion to his mother, then wife Karen, and his three children was beautiful and made me tear up a few times in the way he expressed it. He also gave great insight on his experiences in the music industry as part of a quintet (Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes) to his solo career. But the best (and profoundly heartbreaking) part of the book was his candid take on being a spinal cord injury survivor. And Teddy truly was a survivor--it took great courage and a lot of patience (which he admits he was often short on) to be able to live a productive life when you can't even feel below your chest or grasp objects. But through his trials he still praised God for his life and for the love and support he found in his family and dearest friends. With his charm and his musical legacy, and now with this book, Teddy's got a fan for life in me. Rest in eternal peace, Teddy.