James Pendergrass, a Navy officer attached to the codebreaking unit, had attended a series of lectures at the Moore School of Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania in 1946, and became convinced the only lasting solution to the code breaking problem was a computer that could be quickly re-programmed to work on different tasks.

Before Pendergrass joined the group, the Blue Notes had struggled to find success.

Both albums included material Pendergrass had recorded prior to his accident.

Pendergrass had four children, Tisha, LaDonna, Tamon and Teddy II.

A year earlier, he had gained billing recognition by having the act renamed to " Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes featuring Theodore Pendergrass ", starting from the " Wake Up Everybody " album.

The Blue Notes departed Philadelphia International ( who had signed Pendergrass for solo recordings ) and joined ABC Records in 1977, where they recorded two albums produced by Melvin.

Other artists with whom Ashford & Simpson had hits were Teddy Pendergrass (" Is It Still Good to You "), The Brothers Johnson (" Ride-O-Rocket "), Chaka Khan, both on her own (" I'm Every Woman " and " Clouds "), and with Rufus (" Keep It Comin '" and " Ain't Nothin ' But a Maybe ").

Even after Pendergrass was granted his claim by Congress, he had still received a total of only $ 386. 40, a loss of more than $ 13 from his rightful contract and, according to Twain, nearly $ 300 less than he should have earned from the extended route.

After dropping a dubious decision to journeyman Artis Pendergrass, Page had a rematch with Tim Witherspoon in June 1999.

She had a brief career resurgence during the disco era: as a member of the Philadelphia International All Stars ( which also included Lou Rawls, Billy Paul, Teddy Pendergrass, The O ' Jays and Archie Bell ) she had a minor hit with " Let's Clean Up the Ghetto.

In his later years, Pendergrass ' “ Wake Up Everybody ” has been covered by a diverse range of acts from Simply Red to Patti LaBelle and was chosen as a rallying cry during the 2004 Presidential campaign by Kenneth " Babyface " Edmonds to mobilize voters.

The song also featured Blue Notes member Lloyd Parks singing falsetto in the background and spotlighted Harold Melvin adding in a rap near the end of the song as Pendergrass kept singing, feigning tears.

Despite group founder and original lead singer Harold Melvin's top billing, the Blue Notes ' most famous member was Teddy Pendergrass, their lead singer during the successful years at Philadelphia International.

Retiring in 1988, Blanchard later renewed his participation in First United Methodist in Orlando, FL and became a member of the Pendergrass Sunday School Class.

* March 18 – Teddy Pendergrass is severely injured in a car accident in Philadelphia.

Pendergrass was born Theodore DeReese Pendergrass at Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Pendergrass grew up in Philadelphia and sang often at church.

Pendergrass attended Thomas Edison High School for Boys in North Philadelphia ( now closed ).

Pendergrass played drums for several local Philadelphia bands, eventually becoming the drummer of The Cadillacs.

With five platinum albums and two gold albums, Pendergrass was on his way to be what the media was calling him, " the black Elvis ", not only in terms of his crossover popularity but also due to him buying a mansion akin to Elvis ' Graceland, located just outside of his hometown of Philadelphia.

On March 18, 1982, in the East Falls section of Philadelphia on Lincoln Drive near Rittenhouse Street, Pendergrass was involved in an automobile accident.

The albums completed Pendergrass ' contract with Philadelphia International, in which by that time Pendergrass decided to return to the studio to work on new music and struggled to find a recording deal.

On July 13, 1985, Pendergrass made an emotional return to the stage at the historic Live Aid concert in Philadelphia in front of a live audience of over 99, 000 and 2 billion television viewers.

Also, Pendergrass ' voice was heard on the jingles of a back then local Philadelphia radio station, WSNI-FM.

This line-up of the group, featuring Melvin, Pendergrass, Bernard Wilson, Lawrence Brown, and Lloyd Parks, was signed to Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International label in 1972, scoring several major R & B and pop hits including million-selling singles and albums over the next four years.

Assembled by record producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, MFSB was the house band for their Philadelphia International Records label and originated the signature smooth " Philly sound " sound that dominated the early 1970s for the artists who recorded at the Sigma Sound Studios, including the O ' Jays, the Spinners, the Bluenotes, The Delfonics, Blue Magic, The Intruders, Three Degrees, Jerry Butler, and Teddy Pendergrass.

Ashford and Simpson would perform the song with Teddy Pendergrass in the Philadelphia portion of Live Aid in 1985.

The station playlist included the R & B, soul and funk playing what would become the classics of their genre and launching careers of national artists like Lou Rawls and " Philadelphia Sound " acts such as The O ' Jays, The Stylistics, Patti LaBelle and the Blue Bells, and Teddy Pendergrass.

As mentioned, Philly Soul became a staple of 1970s R & B with such artists as Gamble & Huff, The O ' Jays, Teddy Pendergrass, Harold Melvin and The Delfonics.

Theodore DeReese " Teddy " Pendergrass ( March 26, 1950 – January 13, 2010 ) was an American R & B / soul singer and songwriter.

By early 1982, Pendergrass was the leading R & B male artist of his day usurping competition including closest rivals Marvin Gaye and Barry White.

In 1988, Pendergrass scored his first R & B number-one hit in nearly a decade when the new jack swing-styled " Joy ", off his album of the same name, was released.

" Back in the Day " was Ahmad's only major hit single, making it to # 26 on The Billboard Hot 100, # 19 on the US R & B chart on the strength of its hook-a sample of the Teddy Pendergrass song " Love TKO "— and Ahmad's quirky vocal style, reminiscent of Fatlip of the Pharcyde fame, and # 3 on the US rap chart.

" Released when Ahmad was only 18, " Back in the Day " the remix version ( produced by Maurice Thompson & Jay Williams of Barr 9 Productions ) hit # 26 on the US pop charts and # 19 on the U. S. R & B charts on the strength of its catchy hook, sung over a sample of the Teddy Pendergrass song " Love TKO.

1 ( also known as simply Throwback ) is a 2004 covers album by R & B group Boyz II Men, released by Koch Records, and featuring covers of classic R & B songs ( hence the album title ) from such artists as Teddy Pendergrass, The Isley Brothers and Michael Jackson.

Pendergrass, along with Ashford & Simpson, performed " Reach Out and Touch ".

* Ashford & Simpson – " Solid ", " Reach Out and Touch ( Somebody's Hand )" ( with Teddy Pendergrass ) ( JFK 20: 57 );

The Philly sound in 1970s soul music, notable performers including Gamble & Huff, The O ' Jays, Teddy Pendergrass, Harold Melvin and The Delfonics, is well-known, as are jazz legends like Nina Simone and John Coltrane.

Pendergrass first rose to fame as lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in the 1970s before a successful solo career at the end of the decade.

Pendergrass tearfully thanked the audience for keeping him in their well-wishes and then performed the Ashford & Simpson classic, " Reach Out and Touch ( Somebody's Hand )".

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.

The production team also worked with Melba Moore, Freddie Jackson, producer Rahni Song and Gloria Gaynor, Teddy Pendergrass, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Gladys Knight, The Jackson 5, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Lou Rawls, Archie Bell & the Drells, Jerry Bell and The Intruders.

Main artists signed to the label included The O ' Jays, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes ( including lead singer Teddy Pendergrass, who later signed a solo deal ), Lou Rawls, The Three Degrees, and Billy Paul.