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If reality TV would have existed back in the day, Marvin Gaye and his then-wife, Janis Gaye, would have garnered ratings that were through the roof. Their colorful escapades -and in this case, their sexscapades- make today’s reality shows look like Sesame Street in comparison.

In case you missed it, Jan released a memoir in May 2015, titled “After the Dance: My Life With Marvin Gaye” and a lot of the details she revealed are mind blowing! One of the things Jan disclosed was her alleged affair with R&B legends, Frankie Beverly and Teddy Pendergrass; Lawd…she told it all.

That Time Frankie Beverly Crawled Away From Her…Literally

According to Janis, Marvin loved to see her get busy with other men and/or couples in the bedroom. He was 15 years her senior and was the dominating factor within their relationship. Then along came her fling with Frankie Beverly that had both and odd beginning and ending. Marvin apparently arranged a hotel hookup between his wife and Frankie:

Via DailyMail- Noting a chemistry between Janis and Maze singer, Frankie Beverly, Gaye did everything he could to set up an illicit liaison between the two. When Beverly came for a visit, Gaye not only booked him a room at a local motel but booked the adjoining room for Janis, saying he needed her out of the house so he could focus on music.

As Janis and Beverly smoked a joint in Janis’ hotel room, well aware of the awkwardness, there was a loud bang at the door. It was Gaye, seemingly hoping to catch them in the act. Beverly crawled back to his room on his hands and knees, and Gaye found Janis alone.

Wife Explains Why She Cheated With Frankie & Teddy P.

The visual of the cool-calm-collected Frankie Beverly, crawling outta that hotel room is entertaining, I must admit. Anywho, that hookup didn’t go as apparently planned, but Janis said she began having a sexual affair with Frankie Beverly AND Teddy Pendergrass at the SAME time behind Marvin Gaye’s back! Here’s what she said:

Via NYPost: Soon after Jan and Marvin married in October 1977, he was once again telling her that he loved her but was not in love with her. Gaye — now almost 40 — complained to his 22-year-old wife about her sagging breasts and her stretch marks, explaining, “There’s a big difference between pleasure and excitement. As a man, I can’t help but seek excitement.”

“I was barely 22,” she writes, “yet was convinced that I had lost my youth forever.”

They had vicious fights, including one time when Gaye, behind the wheel with both kids in the car, began to swerve and threatened to “drive this thing off the road!” […]

In time, torn by Gaye’s cruel treatment, Jan slept with [Frankie] Beverly and also hooked up with Teddy Pendergrass, Gaye’s main musical rival.

[Jan revealed she snorted cocaine with Teddy P. and one night when they were out on a date, a jealous Marvin sat outside the restaurant they were in and stalked them. Jan believes she was sleeping with Teddy and Frankie Beverly because she was acting out of anger at Marvin.]

The Violence

Then things turned violent, according to Jan:

Via NYPost: Gaye’s jealousy turned violent. One day, high on a blend of psychedelic mushrooms and cocaine, he started to talk about Jan’s betrayals and became “enraged.”

“He took a kitchen knife and put it to my throat,” she writes. “I was petrified, paralyzed. I thought it was all over.”

Gaye told her, “I’ve loved you too much. This love is killing me. I beg you to provoke me. Provoke me right now so I can take us both out of our misery.”

It’s clear to see that Marvin Gaye had his flaws and so did his wife, Jan Gaye. They are perfect examples of children who were broken, growing up and becoming broken adults. When Marvin sang, he sang from a place that sounded much like his life – painful and passionate.

Sounds like Marvin Gaye was also a good example of what we always say here at ILOSM: Celebrities have accomplished great things, but that doesn’t make them perfect people, it simply makes them perfectly flawed human beings- just like the rest of us. Respect to Janis Gaye for letting the world have a sneak peak into their lives.

The post Marvin Gaye’s Widow Shares His Odd Reaction After ‘Catching’ Her With Frankie Beverly, Teddy P appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

In his book, “Truly Blessed,” Teddy Pendergrass detailed his relationship with a rich girlfriend of his, who was well known around the entertainment circle. He admitted that he was deeply in love with her. her name was Taazmayia ‘Taaz” Lang. Taaz was sadly murdered under very suspicious circumstances and Teddy P. explained what happened on the night of her murder and why he never recovered from her death.

Teddy Pendergrass On Girlfriend’s Murder: “I’ll Never Get Over It”

Pendergrass detailed how he fell in love with Taazmayia “Taaz” Lang. She was the ex-wife of former NFL player, Izzy Lang. Pendergrass started dating Taaz in 1974 and by 1976, he’d moved into her beautiful home with herself and her son. She then became Teddy’s manager-girlfriend…

Teddy P.’s Girlfriend Was Very Popular Among Celebs

On the night of her murder Teddy P. was about to fly out for a few gigs, he kissed Taaz and they agreed to call each other the next day. That was the last time Teddy talked to her.

Pendergrass On How His Girlfriend Was Murdered

Teddy detailed Taazmayia’s mysterious killing:

“Taaz was tending to business but got back to Philly in time to say goodbye before I left. We promised to talk the next day. As the rest of the entourage checked into the hotel, a desk clerk said, ‘Mr. Pendergrass, you have a urgent message from Philadelphia.’ I dialed the number and was informed that Taaz had been murdered. I was in shock.”

“Apparently, the night before, Taaz and Jo Jo Tynes, an employee of mine, drove my Mercedes to her home, Jo Jo was getting something out of the trunk and Taaz was getting out her keys to open the front door when someone emerged from the bushes and shot her at point blank range (execution style). The bullet passed through her arm and pierced her heart; she died almost instantly. “I have never gotten over her murder,”said Pendergrass.

To this day, Taaz’s murder has never been solved. Teddy’s employee, JoJo (who passed away in 2013) never saw who shot Taaz; and JoJo’s wife said he never got over Taaz’s killing either.

-ILoveOldSchoolMusic, old school news with a new point of view. Remember to join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @iloveoldschoolmusic

The post How Teddy Pendergrass’s Girlfriend Was Mysteriously Murdered: “I’ll Never Get Over It” appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

The Horrific Accident

Ever since that tragic day in 1982, everyone’s been speculating about Teddy Pendergrass’ sexuality because all they really knew about the details surrounding that horrific accident was that a transgender woman, Tenika Watson, was riding in the car with him. Finally she’s giving us the details of that day.

Late-soul singer Teddy Pendergrass was at the height of his career when he slammed his Rolls Royce into a tree on March 18, 1982, in the East Falls section of Philadelphia on Lincoln Drive.

He reportedly lost control of the vehicle, as no other car was involved in the crash. Pendergrass and his passenger, Watson, a transgender nightclub performer, were trapped in the wreckage for 45 minutes. Watson walked away from the accident with minor injuries, while Pendergrass suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the chest down.

On What Made Her Finally Speak Out

In a 2014 interview with “Oprah: Where Are They Now?,” she finally opened up about her side of the story.

“I never really got a chance to tell my side of things and it was important to me. Very important to me.” – Tenika Watson

Meet Tenika Watson And What She Revealed About The Accident

Upon first meeting Teddy P., Tenika admitted that she “ran from him..”:

Tenika Watson- I met Teddy in the ’70s. I was coming down the street where I lived at, it was close to the studio where he recorded. He called me over to his car, it was a Rolls Royce. I thought he was a pimp because I wasn’t really used to people having Rolls Royces. So…that was the first time [I’d met him] and I ran from him.

Tenika was a former prostitute turned nightclub employee and model by the time she’d come across Teddy again, at a nightclub, on that unfortunate fateful night that left him paralyzed:

T.W.- I went over and spoke to him…said ‘Hi’ and said I just wanted to speak to you.’ He said “Okay,” and I said ‘I’m leaving because I have to get up to early tomorrow.’

He said, “Well I’m getting ready to leave too. Would you like a ride home?” So I said ‘Sure.’

So, we proceeded to go to his car and drive away, and that’s when the accident happened.

She continued:

TW- First, the car started speeding up really fast. And I was wondering, ‘Is he driving fast?’, but he wasn’t and was out of control. Then I noticed he was struggling with the wheel. And all of a sudden I heard this great big bang.

Next thing I know the press was there, and I got into this ambulance with him. I helped him as much as I could.

Tenika says she also suffered injuries from the car crash:

TW- I had contusions from the impact and uh, I had a chipped tooth, which is nothing compared to him.

In the days following the accident, Tenika says she tried to reach out to Teddy, and even went to the hospital to see how he was doing. However, she says a female who was there refused to let her speak with him.

FINALLY we now know the truth! You can clearly look at this woman and see that even today she looks like a woman, not a man. Also, based on what she said, it doesn’t sound like Teddy P. ever had a chance to find out that she was, in fact, a transgender womon. So there you have it folks!

Many of us are probably wondering why didn’t Teddy do more to clear his name from these false rumors regarding his sexuality? I think it’s safe to say that our beloved Teddy P. had much bigger issues on his hands after becoming paralyzed, other than entertaining a rumor that was untrue.

A lot of people have given Teddy P. and his legacy such a bad rap over the years, but this just goes to show you that everything you hear ain’t always true. Now of course, we all are sometimes intrigued by the many scandals, deceptions, and sagas of the lives of entertainers, but we are also just as intrigued by the TRUTH…or at least we should be.

Thankfully, Teddy P.’s legacy no longer has to be tainted by this particular rumor.

The post Decades Later, Trans-Woman With Teddy Pendergrass During His Accident Revealed Real Story appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

In case you’re wondering…yep, there was such a thing as in Old School R&B beef in the ’70s. The feud that Teddy Pendergrass described in his autobiography, “Truly Blessed,” between he and Bobby Womack, is proof that the term, “beef,” doesn’t just apply to rappers.

Like we also say, regardless of if the stories of some of our favorite old school entertainers are good, bad, or ugly, there is always a very valuable lesson we can learn from their life stories… and we’ll always make sure that we share those lessons with our community. With that said, take a look at what actually went down between Teddy and Bobby below…

Teddy Pendergrass Told His Side Of The Story About His Feud With Bobby Womack

Pendergrass once revealed that after he’d broke away from Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, and went on to form his own group, they eventually went on tour with former group member, Bobby Womack. Teddy said that the performance arrangement was “we would alternate opening and closing with Womack. Bobby had been around a little while longer than us and I guess he felt that he should headline every night. All through the tour he bitched and moaned until one night he decided to do something about it. It was our night to close the show but shortly before show time, we got word that Bobby would try to pull something.’

I announced from the stage that the show was over, good night! The houselights went up and we headed offstage. I hadn’t even gotten backstage, and what do I see but Bobby and his band hauling ass, heading for the stage, ready to go. I ran backstage where I found Bobby in the wings, he looked perfectly healthy to me. “You are not going on!” I shouted in his face. “This damn show is over! I just closed it!”

He replied, “No, Ted, you just opened it, he replied sarcastically. “I’m going on.” When the emcee announced that Womack had recovered and was going to play, the crowd applauded. I stood backstage glaring and thinking; he’s not going to get away with this.

I shouted for the sound man ‘unplug that asshole.’ The stage went dark and silent and that was it. You should have seen the look on Bobby’s face when he realized he wasn’t going to be headlining that night. A member of Womack’s crew threatened to shoot me, forcing me to hide out in my dressing room.”

Some would say Bobby and Teddy P. should have been more mature about the situation. But truth be told, their past beef was an example of the intense energy they put into protecting what’s theirs – their craft, their brand, their reputation, their honor, their pride, etc.

Oftentimes, many soul artists – just like a lot of us regular folks – didn’t come from much. Therefore, when we put so much energy into building something that we love so passionately, we tend to protect it with our lives…mainly because we weren’t born with silver spoons in our mouths, and would be damned if we allow anyone to snatch it from us. For Teddy and Bobby, that ‘great love’ was their music.

It’s evident that Teddy Pendergrass and Bobby Womack put a ton of energy and creativity into their crafts. And although the competition was fierce back then, that is what produced some great bodies of work from many artists of the Old School era. For that, we are forever grateful.

The post Teddy Pendergrass Once Revealed How Petty Feud With Bobby Womack Almost Got Him Shot appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Teddy Pendergrass was on top of the world throughout the ’70s and ’80s. He was widely known as the R&B singer who women threw their panties at whenever he performed. A true sex symbol in the eyes of the public…then it all came crashing down March 18, 1982, when the brakes on his Rolls-Royce failed, causing the car to hit a metal guardrail, cross into oncoming traffic, and ram into a tree. Once the smoke settled, Pendergrass suffered a broken neck, a crushed spinal cord, and damage to vital nerves. He was unconscious for eight days and, when he regained consciousness, he learned that he was paralyzed and would be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

So it got to a point where Pendergrass couldn’t handle his new condition and was ready to check out of here by committing suicide. He revealed in his 1998 autobiography, Truly Blessed, that he tried very hard to convince his then-wife, Karen (pictured above), to do him one last favor.

Teddy Pendergrass tried very hard to convince his then-wife, Karen to give him an overdose of sleeping pills, probably because he couldn’t get the pills inside of his mouth himself. Of course his wife denied his request and Teddy P. continued to suffered severe depression and insomnia for years after the accident.

“We cried and decided that wouldn’t be the best thing to do.”

He credited Karen with helping him “through a lot of hard times.” There was a turning point though. His road to recovery began when he tried out his voice by singing along with a coffee commercial on TV. Although he had been warned by doctors that he might not ever be able to sing again, Pendergrass realized that his voice was still in tact.

“Nothing ever sounded as sweet to my ears as my version of that silly damn jingle,” he wrote in Truly Blessed. Pendergrass sought help from a quadriplegic therapist, who helped him exorcize thoughts of suicide through the staging of a mock funeral.

In addition to his disability, Pendergrass had to defend himself against rumors that his accident had been caused by excessive alcohol and drug use. Although Philadelphia police cited Pendergrass for reckless driving, they found no evidence that alcohol or drugs had contributed to the crash.

Another rumor circulated that Pendergrass’s passenger at the time of the accident, Tenika Watson, was actually a transgender he was dating but that was 100% FALSE. He’d just offered her a ride home and had never met Tenika prior to that night. That rumor was finally laid to rest once and for all, just last year when the transgender woman, Tenika Watson, gave a very thorough, detail by detail account of what happened that night and she proved from in her own words that she never knew Teddy P. and that he never knew she was a transgender.

Oftentimes when life throws us curve balls, as long as we’re still breathing after being hit by them, we always know things could be worse. It’s all about standing on the outside of our situation and asking ourselves a simple question: ‘What is it that I have?’ Once we’re clear on that, we then understand our starting point and can ultimately figure out how to take a step from point A to point B and beyond. Teddy P. did just that. He eventually dug his way out of a depression that almost took his life and he went on to continue his life’s work. Job well done Teddy P….rest well.

The post Teddy P. Once Asked Wife To Do The Unthinkable To Him And It Brought Tears To Our Eyes appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

In his book, “Truly Blessed,” Teddy Pendergrass detailed his relationship with a rich girlfriend of his, who was well known around the entertainment circle. He admitted that he was deeply in love with her. Her name was Taazmayia ‘Taaz” Lang. Taaz was sadly murdered under very suspicious circumstances and Teddy P. explained what happened on the night of her murder and why he never recovered from her death.

Teddy Pendergrass On Girlfriend’s Murder: “I’ll Never Get Over It”

Pendergrass detailed how he fell in love with Taazmayia “Taaz” Lang. She was the ex-wife of former NFL player, Izzy Lang. Pendergrass started dating Taaz in 1974 and by 1976, he’d moved into her beautiful home with her and her son. She then became Teddy’s manager-girlfriend…

Teddy P.’s Girlfriend Was Very Popular Among Celebs

On the night of her murder Teddy P. was about to fly out for a few gigs, he kissed Taaz and they agreed to call each other the next day. That was the last time Teddy talked to her.

Pendergrass On How His Girlfriend Was Murdered

Teddy detailed Taazmayia’s mysterious killing:

“Taaz was tending to business but got back to Philly in time to say goodbye before I left. We promised to talk the next day. As the rest of the entourage checked into the hotel, a desk clerk said, ‘Mr. Pendergrass, you have a urgent message from Philadelphia.’ I dialed the number and was informed that Taaz had been murdered. I was in shock.”

“Apparently, the night before, Taaz and Jo Jo Tynes, an employee of mine, drove my Mercedes to her home, Jo Jo was getting something out of the trunk and Taaz was getting out her keys to open the front door when someone emerged from the bushes and shot her at point blank range (execution style). The bullet passed through her arm and pierced her heart; she died almost instantly. “I have never gotten over her murder,”said Pendergrass.

To this day, Taaz’s murder has never been solved. Teddy’s employee, JoJo (who passed away in 2013) never saw who shot Taaz; and JoJo’s wife said he never got over Taaz’s killing either.

-ILoveOldSchoolMusic, old school news with a new point of view. Remember to join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @iloveoldschoolmusic

The post How Teddy Pendergrass’s Girlfriend Was Mysteriously Murdered: “I’ll Never Get Over It” appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

It’s been twelve years since Teddy Pendergrass passed away and some fans, along with his kids, reportedly believe Joan Pendergrass — Teddy P.’s wife of two years — did his children wrong. Of course, Teddy’s children have had a lot to say about the matter that ultimately involved multiple lawsuits, foul-play accusations, and family separation.

In a nutshell, there were –and possibly still are– many unresolved issues between his Teddy Pendergrass’s widow, Joan; and his four children. So why were Teddy’s kids and some of his fans saying Joan did his kids dirty? It’s because if you recall, there has been constant tension in the family over Teddy’s will.

Teddy Pendergrass was married twice — his first marriage to ex-wife, Karen Stills, lasted for 15 years (1987-2002); and he and his widow, Joan Pendergrass, were married for 2 years (from 2008 to his death in 2010).

The problem that Teddy’s kids and many other folks have with this picture is that they are having a very hard time wrapping their minds around the fact that Teddy P. — who had relationships with his children; and also still had a living mother, Ida Geraldine Epps (who was 91 years young at the time of his death) — would leave nearly everything he’d worked for since the late 1960s, solely to the woman he was married to for the last two years of his life.

Now, of course that didn’t sit well with Teddy P.’s kids. According to reports, the will that was presented by Teddy’s widow, Joan, gives her 100% control over Teddy P.’s estate. The will also reportedly named Joan as the sole beneficiary, leaving his children with almost nothing…which is something that Teddy’s children claimed is completely uncharacteristic of their father. Thus, a lengthy legal battle pursued….

Teddy’s Kids’ Legal Drama With Teddy’s Widow

From the time Teddy Pendergrass passed away in 2010 up until 2018, his children were in an ongoing battle with his widow, Joan Pendergrass, over their dad’s estate. Teddy met Joan in 2006 and married her in 2008. What perplexed Teddy’s children was the will Joan presented to the courts, which left Teddy P.’s entire estate to her, and none to his kids…although Teddy reportedly had relationships with his children throughout their lives.

Teddy II filed a lawsuit on behalf or him and his sisters, claiming the will Joan presented was a falsely amended version of the Will that originally left Teddy II as the sole beneficiary. He said his dad ‘lacked the capacity to make such a decision and alleged it had been signed by Joan, not Teddy.’

By 2015, LaDonna filed additional court docs to challenge the authenticity of the will Joan Pendergrass submitted to the courts on behalf of Teddy P.

“She was married to my dad for only a year, and she has turned my family upside down. All we want is what’s right,” said LaDonna.

“We [Joan and Teddy’s children] simply don’t see eye-to-eye. What I do know is my father did what he intended to do – and that is, put me in charge for the family,” stated Teddy P. II -via VictoriaAdvocate.com

Based on Teddy’s close bond with his children, it’s understandable why they question a will that only leaves a wife of 2 years as the sole beneficiary of his estate and all future earnings.

However, in 2018 a judge ruled that the will Teddy II presented to the courts was forged and that Joan’s will was the accurate one, leaving the music icon’s children with pretty much nothing from his estate.

As a result of the 6 year-long, nearly $850,000 court battle, Joan sued the Pendergrass kids in February 2018. According to reports, Joan’s lawsuit states, “The illusion and fantasy created by Theodore, Jr. and propagated by his lawyers forced Mrs. Pendergrass to undergo years of turmoil and anguish as her relationship with her late husband was unmercifully scrutinized.”

Thoughts, ILOSM family?

The post Some Believe Teddy Pendergrass Made A Terrible Mistake Marrying His Last Wife appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

The legendary Teddy Pendergrass was known for his epic baby-making music, but the late soul icon also had three babies of his own that many never knew about. Back in the day, Teddy was the flashy, fur-coat rockin,’ gold-chain sportin’ ladies man, for whom women flocked to his concerts just to throw panties at him. Behind the scenes, he was a daddy to his kids and a lover to his women. So much so, that the brotha proved to be a pretty busy individual in the mid ’70s. How so? By managing to have three of his four kids – by only 2 women – within less than two years. How is that possible, you ask? Well, Teddy P. explained it in a past interview with Jet Magazine:

“I wasn’t bouncing between. My son’s mother and I were dating….we broke up and I met my daughter’s mother and she had a child. Two weeks after the child was born, she conceived again and I didn’t know it and we had broken up. I went back to my son’s mother and two months later she conceived. All my children are blessings- not mistakes. And you can bet that they love each other.”

Teddy also attempted to train his kids not to do as he did, but as he said:

“I also let them know that they were born out of wedlock,” Teddy stated when his children were younger kids. He continued, “it doesn’t make it wrong, but that they shouldn’t do the same thing when they grow up. But if it happens, it happens.”

What Teddy’s Kids Are Doing Now

It’s been said that Teddy had a fourth child named, Tamon (not pictured), but little is known about him and as far as we know, none of the other Pendergrass kids have mentioned him in public interviews and whatnot. So, not quite sure what’s up with him, or his whereabouts. Moving on…

Tishia Burnett, 47, is a real estate agent and married.

LaDonna Hollerway, 48, works as a hospital technician.

Teddy P. II (pictured above), 46, is the sibling who was born in the same year as his sis,’ Tishia; and he was born just months after his big sis,’ LaDonna. He co-owns and operates a successful real estate investment firm, Teddy Pendergrass Investment Group, LLC, which ‘is focused on multi-family complexes. From 20-300, ideally,’ according to their bio.

Another fun fact about Teddy II, is that he was also the driving force behind he and his siblings’ legal battle with Teddy’s P.’s widow.

Their Legal Drama With Teddy’s Widow

From the time Teddy Pendergrass passed away in 2010 up until 2018, his children were in an ongoing battle with his widow, Joan Pendergrass, over their dad’s estate. Teddy met Joan in 2006 and married her in 2008. What perplexed Teddy’s children was the will Joan presented to the courts, which left Teddy P.’s entire estate to her, and none to his kids…although Teddy reportedly had relationships with his children throughout their lives.

Teddy II filed a lawsuit on behalf or him and his sisters, claiming the will Joan presented was a falsely amended version of the Will that originally left Teddy II as the sole beneficiary. He said his dad ‘lacked the capacity to make such a decision and alleged it had been signed by Joan, not Teddy.’

By 2015, LaDonna filed additional court docs to challenge the authenticity of the will Joan Pendergrass submitted to the courts on behalf of Teddy P.

“She was married to my dad for only a year, and she has turned my family upside down. All we want is what’s right,” said LaDonna.

“We [Joan and Teddy’s children] simply don’t see eye-to-eye. What I do know is my father did what he intended to do – and that is, put me in charge for the family,” stated Teddy P. II -via VictoriaAdvocate.com

Based on Teddy’s close bond with his children, it’s understandable why they question a will that only leaves a wife of 2 years as the sole beneficiary of his estate and all future earnings.

However, in 2018 a judge ruled that the will Teddy II presented to the courts was forged and that Joan’s will was the accurate one, leaving the music icon’s children with pretty much nothing from his estate.

As a result of the 6 year-long, nearly $850,000 court battle, Joan sued the Pendergrass kids in February 2018. According to reports, Joan’s lawsuit states, “The illusion and fantasy created by Theodore, Jr. and propagated by his lawyers forced Mrs. Pendergrass to undergo years of turmoil and anguish as her relationship with her late husband was unmercifully scrutinized.”

Hmmm…thoughts ILOSM family?

The post We Are Family: Meet The Three Children Teddy Pendergrass Fathered In One Year appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

The Horrific Accident

Ever since that tragic day in 1982, everyone’s been speculating about Teddy Pendergrass’ sexuality because all they really knew about the details surrounding that horrific accident was that a transgender woman, Tenika Watson, was riding in the car with him. Finally she’s giving us the details of that day.

Late-soul singer Teddy Pendergrass was at the height of his career when he slammed his Rolls Royce into a tree on March 18, 1982, in the East Falls section of Philadelphia on Lincoln Drive.

He reportedly lost control of the vehicle, as no other car was involved in the crash. Pendergrass and his passenger, Watson, a transgender nightclub performer, were trapped in the wreckage for 45 minutes. Watson walked away from the accident with minor injuries, while Pendergrass suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the chest down.

On What Made Her Finally Speak Out

In a 2014 interview with “Oprah: Where Are They Now?,” she finally opened up about her side of the story.

“I never really got a chance to tell my side of things and it was important to me. Very important to me.” – Tenika Watson

Meet Tenika Watson And What She Revealed About The Accident

Upon first meeting Teddy P., Tenika admitted that she “ran from him..”:

Tenika Watson- I met Teddy in the ’70s. I was coming down the street where I lived at, it was close to the studio where he recorded. He called me over to his car, it was a Rolls Royce. I thought he was a pimp because I wasn’t really used to people having Rolls Royces. So…that was the first time [I’d met him] and I ran from him.

Tenika was a former prostitute turned nightclub employee and model by the time she’d come across Teddy again, at a nightclub, on that unfortunate fateful night that left him paralyzed:

T.W.- I went over and spoke to him…said ‘Hi’ and said I just wanted to speak to you.’ He said “Okay,” and I said ‘I’m leaving because I have to get up to early tomorrow.’

He said, “Well I’m getting ready to leave too. Would you like a ride home?” So I said ‘Sure.’

So, we proceeded to go to his car and drive away, and that’s when the accident happened.

She continued:

TW- First, the car started speeding up really fast. And I was wondering, ‘Is he driving fast?’, but he wasn’t and was out of control. Then I noticed he was struggling with the wheel. And all of a sudden I heard this great big bang.

Next thing I know the press was there, and I got into this ambulance with him. I helped him as much as I could.

Tenika says she also suffered injuries from the car crash:

TW- I had contusions from the impact and uh, I had a chipped tooth, which is nothing compared to him.

In the days following the accident, Tenika says she tried to reach out to Teddy, and even went to the hospital to see how he was doing. However, she says a female who was there refused to let her speak with him.

FINALLY we now know the truth! You can clearly look at this woman and see that even today she looks like a woman, not a man. Also, based on what she said, it doesn’t sound like Teddy P. ever had a chance to find out that she was, in fact, a transgender womon. So there you have it folks!

Many of us are probably wondering why didn’t Teddy do more to clear his name from these false rumors regarding his sexuality? I think it’s safe to say that our beloved Teddy P. had much bigger issues on his hands after becoming paralyzed, other than entertaining a rumor that was untrue.

A lot of people have given Teddy P. and his legacy such a bad rap over the years, but this just goes to show you that everything you hear ain’t always true. Now of course, we all are sometimes intrigued by the many scandals, deceptions, and sagas of the lives of entertainers, but we are also just as intrigued by the TRUTH…or at least we should be.

Thankfully, Teddy P.’s legacy no longer has to be tainted by this particular rumor.

The post Decades Later, Trans-Woman With Teddy Pendergrass During His Accident Revealed Real Story appeared first on I Love Old School Music.