Teddy Pendergrass, the 31-year-old R&B singer, was on the verge of crossing into mainstream pop when tragedy struck late one night. He was paralyzed from the chest down after a car crash. Despite this setback, he was branching out into new business ventures, thanks to his remarkable talent, striking good looks, and burning sexuality. He had sold out shows wherever he played, and he had five multi-platinum albums behind him. It was the early 1980s and Teddy Pendergrass was riding high.
Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don’t Know Me serves as the main focus of the Showtime documentary. The narrative of his ascent to stardom and successful return from adversity is more powerful than that. However, Teddy Pendergrass was confined to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. The notion of him being a captivating figure in his live performances and physical presence appeared to be a fate worse than death; Pendergrass came perilously close to ending his own life. It was not uncommon for celebrities to die at a young age, but witnessing their sickness or injuries was unheard of. I vividly recall the impact of Teddy Pendergrass’ accident on the world of popular music.
Growing up in the impoverished neighborhoods of Philadelphia, where one had to constantly watch out for danger, as stated by childhood friend L.T. Brinkley, shaped Teddy Pendergrass’ early life. Raised by a mother who was the sole provider, he only encountered his father once, when he was 11 years old, before his untimely death. Pendergrass reflects, “I never experienced such despair,” as his peers chose to join the military and fight in Vietnam instead of risking their lives as young African American men in the tough streets of “Philthy-delphia.”