Singers, from left, Valerie Simpson, Teddy Pendergrass and Nicholas Ashford perform at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia during the Live Aid famine relief concert. (Amy Sancetta / Associated Press)
In 1986, Dick Clark, right, executive producer of the “American Music Award” telecast, goes over production notes with singer Teddy Pendergrass during rehearsal at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Pendergrass made his first solo appearance on the show since his near-fatal auto accident. (ABC / Associated Press)
Teddy Pendergrass performs at the Good Neighbor Community Outreach Celebration in August 2000 in Philadelphia. Pendergrass, who became R&B’s reigning sex symbol in the 1970s and ‘80s with his forceful, masculine voice and passionate love ballads, died Wednesday at age 59. (Suzanne Plunkett / Associated Press)
CN8’s Carla Showell-Lee interviews Teddy Pendergrass, an advocate for people with spinal cord injuries, in Philadelphia in 2007. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)
