Life is a song...

"Life is a song worth singing. Why don't you sing it?

Only you generate the power, to decide what to do with your life.

You're a fool if you think you're helpless, to control what you do with your life."

Perhaps not the most profound lyrics ever written, but decidedly more poignant when they emerge from the lips of a man whose exceptional tone would be his only salvation through the most trying of times. That man was Teddy Pendergrass.

Of all the dramatic stories in music, few ring more tragic than the story of Philadelphia's thundering velvet voice, for the simple reason that there was no self-sabotage, drug abuse, alcoholism, or mental illness. Much to the contrary, those words printed above would serve as his own personal philosophy.

On March 18, 1982, Pendergrass crashed his Rolls-Royce into a tree. He had broken his neck, crushed his spinal cord and bone fragments had severed some vital nerves. Movement was limited to his head, shoulders, and biceps. Doctors told him that in addition to permanent paralysis, his type of injury usually affected the breathing muscles required in order to sing. "Pendergrass cried until his eyes looked like golf balls" says an article in Life Magazine. Then when he was able to cautiously test his voice and discovered he could still sing, he said, "I knew that anything else I had to do, I could do." And he did.

After intense physical therapy, he returned to the studio to record the album Love Language, featuring the 1984 ballad Hold Me, a duet with a then-unknown young lady named Whitney Houston. Consequently, while some people think he disappeared, he actually continued not only to produce, but was Grammy-nominated for "Best Male R&B Vocal Performance" in 1989, '92 and '94.

Eddie Murphy once joked that he liked dudes with more masculine voices, like Teddy Pendergrass, 'cause Teddy just takes the lyrics and shouts "YOU GOT-YOU GOT-YOU GOT WHAT I NEED!!"

True that his voice was robust, but it's what he chose to do with his god-given instrument that made him outstanding.

Some may remember first hearing his vocals as a member of Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes when he sang the now oft-covered If You Don't Know Me By Now, as well as Wake Up Everybody, and Bad Luck.

As a soloist, Teddy set the standard for sexy bedroom soul, as exemplified by such hits as; Close The Door, Turn Off The Lights, Come on Over to My Place and Love TKO. Consequently, his stage crew assembled an impressive assortment of ladies undergarments.

In 2009, Pendergrass underwent surgery for colon cancer but succumbed on Last Wednesday, January 13, at age 59, leaving behind a legacy of love among his fans.

If you're younger, and thinking that his music is now irrelevant, please just look to artists like Little Brother, Kanye West, Cam’Ron, Twista, Ghostface, Nelly and DMX who have all sampled and covered his works.

So here's my idea, this year for Valentine's day, instead of fighting every other last-minute slacker at the flower store, go get a copy of The Essential Teddy Pendergrass CD, light some candles, put on your cowboy hat and boots (and nothing else), wait for your woman to come home, and sing along to this:

"Close the door. Let me give you what you've been waiting for.

Baby I got so much love to give. I wanna give it all to you."

If she doesn't run out screaming, she's yours.

Speaking of the music of love, my friend Karen at Zoomer media tells me that a new CD is being released today called Moses Presents ZOOMER'S CHOICE: But I Still Believe In Love. (That's Moses Znaimer, not Charlton Heston) Just another great gift idea for Valentine's Day. A new CD of his personal selection of “surefire romantic songs and hurtin’ music guaranteed to get that special someone in the mood”. These songs are described as mellow, moving and meaningful, without the cynicism of much of today’s pop music.

I still recommend the hat and boots.

I leave you all with this link to Teddy, the way those who knew him will always remember him.

R.I.P. Teddy Baby.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54-9Jvq1Li4