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.
is a personal story of triumph--over poverty, racism, violence, disability, and fate--and a tribute to faith, determination, and love.