Soul singer and legend Teddy Pendergrass has died at age 59, eight months after surgery for colon cancer. Any death due to colon cancer is one too many, but it''s even more difficult to understand when the person is so young. Many around the world are mourning the loss of Pendergrass today.
Colon cancer was not the only health challenge faced by Pendergrass in his life. In 1982, a car accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. Despite this setback, Pendergrass continued to record, perform, and give back to the community by forming the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance to benefit victims of spinal cord injuries in 1998.
According to Kenny Gamble, close friend and half of the duo who wrote and produced many of Pendergrass'' award-winning albums, Pendergrass was very successful, chalking up 10 platinum albums in a row.
Gamble and Leon Huff, the other half of the producer/writer team, noted that Pendergrass was "one of the greatest" recording and performing artists. Gamble also called Pendergrass courageous, pointing out that he we never angry or bitter about the accident that left him paralyzed.
The loss of Pendergrass is sure to bring much-needed awareness to colon cancer. Even in his passing, Pendergrass will continue to give back to us all
By Suzanne Dixon, MPH, RD, About.com Guide to Colon Cancer
NOTE: this article originally appeared at:
http://coloncancer.about.com/b/2010/01/14/soul-legend-teddy-pendergrass-dies-after-battle-with-colon-cancer.htm