Black Celebrity Men

Thursday, July 1st marked the fifth anniversary of the death of Luther Vandross at the age of 54 from a heart attack after suffering a massive stroke in 2003.

I loved me some Luther. I remember when I was younger I wanted him to be my uncle. I think one of the reasons I loved and admired him so much was because my parents use to play his music ALL THE TIME when I was a kid; especially at their house parties. One of the first Luther songs I ever heard and learned verbatim was Bad Boy/Having a Party. I think it was one of their favorites too because they'd play that song 4 or 5 times during their parties and I'd be in my room (because I was too young to be partying with the grown folk) dancing my ass off. It wasn't until they were clearing everyone out of the house that I was allowed to come out of my room and really jam to the song like I wanted too.

But to this day I don't have a favorite Luther Vandross song (same goes for Michael) because he had just too many. I can't even begin to tell anyone what my favorite Luther Vandross song is because there is no such thing as far as I'm concerned.

Needless to say, I was sad as hell when I learned of his passing. My mother was too...considering the fact that my father has just passed from cancer 5 months before. I watched Luther's funeral online and boo hoo'd the entire time. And I still cry when I listen to certain songs; specifically Dance With My Father. With singers like Luther, Jackie, Marvin, Michael and Teddy P. gone, I can only imagine the "sweet sounds coming down on the nightshift."

I hope singers like El DeBarge continue to take care of themselves so that we can continue to enjoy their voices while they're still here.

There's more information regarding Teddy Pendergrass' homegoing services. The public viewing will be held today from noon to 8 p.m. at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, 2800 W. Cheltenham Ave in Philadelphia. For folks who were wondering if Teddy's funeral would be opened to the public, it will. After a private viewing for family and special guests, the public is invited to attend the services tomorrow at the church at 10 a.m. The service will include special performances by Tyrese, Will Downing, Stephanie Mills and Melba Moore.

Burial services afterward are for family and friends only.

Also, in lieu of flowers, donations to benefit charities can be made through the Teddy Pendergrass Memorial Fund. Make checks out to Theodore P. and Joan Pendergrass, P.O. Box 382, Gladwyne, Pa. 19035.

When Pendergrass died Jan. 13 after a fight with colon cancer, "the world lost one of the greatest and most sensual of soul singers, a gruff-voiced bedroom balladeer to whom every R&B love man from R. Kelly to Usher owes a seducer's debt," according to Inquirer music critic Dan DeLuca.

Tyrese paid a special tribute to Teddy a few nights ago on George Lopez' Lopez Tonight Show by performing one of Teddy's signature ballads, Come Go With Me.

Funeral arrangements and a public viewing for soul singer Teddy Pendergrass have been set after his death from colon cancer at the age of 59. The singer passed away at a hospital in Philadelphia on Wednesday, eight months after he underwent surgery to treat the disease.

A public viewing is scheduled for January 22nd at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia. The funeral will be held there the following day with burial services at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in neighboring Bala Cynwyd.

Pendergrass is survived by his wife, a son, two daughters and nine grandchildren.

He will be missed.

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Condolences to the family of legendary soul singer Teddy Pendergrass. Teddy passed away in Philadelphia on Wednesday at the age of 59 after succumbing to complications from colon cancer surgery. According to his son Teddy Pendergrass II, the singer underwent colon cancer surgery eight months ago and had "a difficult recovery." His son thanks all the fans of his father's music and says his father will live on through his songs. He says the singer was loved by friends and family worldwide. Yes, indeed. Teddy's music was the truth! My parents loved themselves some TP! Played his music at every house party they had. Teddy, Marvin, Jeffrey Osborne, Luther, The O'Jays, Barry White, Al Green, Earth, Wind and Fire. True R&B soul music legends. It makes me really appreciate the music I grew up on. I wouldn't be surprised if I was conceived during one of their songs! What I admired most about him is that he never let his paralysis define him or deter him from anything. That's a good look. For those who don't know, in 1982 Teddy suffered a spinal cord injury and was paralyzed from the waist down (with limited use of his arms) when the brakes failed on his Rolls-Royce and he hit a tree while on his way to a party. He spent six months in a hospital but returned to recording the next year with the album Love Language.

Teddy began his professional singing career as the lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in the 1970s before embarking on a successful solo career in 1977 with his debut self-titled album. In 2006, Pendergrass announced his retirement from the music industry. In 2007, he briefly returned to performing to participate in Teddy 25: A Celebration of Life, Hope & Possibilities, a 25th anniversary awards ceremony that marked Pendergrass' accident date, but also raised money for his charity, The Teddy Pendergrass Alliance, and honored those who helped Pendergrass since his accident. Some of Teddy's biggest and most memorable hits included Turn Off the Lights, Love TKO, When Somebody Loves You Back, Whole Town's Laughing at Me, Joy, Close the Door, If You Don't Know Me By Now and Come Go With Me.