Teddy Pendergrass dies at 59

Teddy Pendergrass has died.

The 'If You Don't know Me By Now' hitmaker, who was paralysed from the waist down from a car accident in 1982, passed away in Philadelphia aged 59 after a battle with colon cancer.

His son, Teddy Pendergrass II, said: "To all his fans who loved his music, thank you. He will live on through his music."

Soul singer Teddy – who shot to fame as singer in Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes - was the first black male singer to record five consecutive multi-platinum albums in the US, and didn't tour for nearly 20 years after the car accident which left him paralysed.

The singer's friend and long-time collaborator Kenny Gamble said that despite his difficult condition, he never felt sorry for himself.

He added: "In quite moments, he probably did a lot of reflection. But I never saw him pity himself.

"He stayed busy. But I feel that he's in a better place now… he doesn't have to go through that pain or whatever he was going through anymore."