Teddy Pendergrass, the soul and R&B star who sang on some of the biggest US hits of the 1970s and 1980s, has died.
Pendergrass, who was 59, died in a Philadelphia hospital yesterday.
His son, Teddy Pendergrass II, said the singer had undergone colon cancer surgery eight months ago and had "a difficult recovery".
"To all his fans who loved his music, thank you. He will live on through his music," he said.
In a 1982 car accident, Pendergrass suffered a spinal cord injury and was paralysed from the waist down.
He established the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance to help those with spinal cord injuries achieve their full potential and continued to record music.
Pendergrass was a member of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, whose hits included 'I Miss You' and 'If You Don't Know Me by Now'.
His solo hits included 'Love T.K.O', 'Close the Door' and 'I Don't Love You Anymore'.
