Truly Blessed

by Teddy Pendergrass, Patricia Romanowski

The rhythm-and-blues singer whose enormous success was interrupted in 1982 by a car accident that left him permanently confined to a wheelchair looks back on his life and career, recounting his personal struggles and victories. 100,000 first printing. Tour.

Genres: Music, Memoir, Nonfiction, African American, Biography

319 pages, Hardcover

First published October 12, 1998

Reviews

[Diane (IF U'RE PRIVATE, PLEASE SKIP ME!!!) Wallace]

Great read! The inside and outside look into the life and career of the great Teddy P -- all his ups & downs. Recommended read! (paperback!)

[Teo]

Honestly, I did not know what to expect going into this, but it really exceeded any expectations I might've had. Teddy Pendergrass is one of the most underappreciated R&B musicians, and now seeing how he viewed and advocated for the disabled, I'd say activist too. Considering this was written in the late 90s, I'm really appreciative of his immense vulnerability and mindset surrounding having been a paralyzed person. He offered quite a rare and interesting perspective as someone who went from living the high life and being a 'sex symbol' to having his world changed in a blink of an eye and dealing with all that comes with quadriplegia. Him showing his struggles with ableism, even as someone with status and money, really makes you see what a challenge it is societally to be disabled, and it sucks to see that not much has changed since this was written. Going back for a second, I also loved how much about the music industry in the 70s was talked about, of which takes up the biggest portion of the book. He shed a lot of insight into the Motown era of music and his hometown of Philadelphia, and of course his own music. 
Not only was the writing preciously personal (I was even close to tears when the Live Aid performance moment came around) but also sprinkled with humor, which had me laughing out loud a few times.

RIP to the legend Teddy Pendergass, and I shall end this on a quote from the book that is truly wise:

"Nothing of the moment is lost, because it's all about what you get when you get there, not how you get there." <3

[Kimberly Reese]

Teddy Pendergrass was honest with his sexuality and tragedy, he is soul music and When he sing you can feel his passion when he make love with a woman. It will never be another Teddy Pendergrass. When Someone Love You Back And Joy is my cut

[grace rivera]

not very interesting, but love the way he sings

[Dylan O'Crumble]

Beautiful book✌

[Micky Lee]

A great read if you a fan or not I am a big fan of Teddy grew up with his music amazing voice and a truly amazing man had a lot to overcome not just with his disabilities but life in general get the book and read it you will love it not just for teddy but for all the other singers he mentions in the book. True soul legend R.I.P

[Wordsmithsbookstores]

Unputdownable. Brutally frank memoir of an icon

[John]

This is a story about SOUL and COURAGE...During his heyday, nobody could sing an r&b song like Pendergrass...the only one that came close was the incomprable David Ruffin.

Pendergrass' story is one of "rags to riches." And for several years he lived the high life. But then his life took a tragic turn...