Theodore DeReese Pendergrass was born on March 26, 1950, and lived until January 13, 2010.

Teddy Pendergrass remains one of the great R&B singers of the 20th century. The lead singer for “Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes” enjoyed a glittering career and was an essential part of the development of the sound known as “Philly soul.”

Pendergrass coasted through the music industry in the seventies, releasing hit after hit, until a ghastly motor accident paralyzed the singer from the neck down in 1982.

Pendergrass persevered as a musician, giving performances from a wheelchair, but his body ultimately gave out shortly after successful colon surgery.

Pendergrass died in a hospital near his hometown of Philadelphia, aged 59.

Who inherited Tamon Pendergrass’s money and estate?

In the immediate aftermath of the singer’s death, conflict arose in his family as his wife and son presented conflicting wills — each naming themselves as sole beneficiaries of Pendergrass’ assets, and leaving the other with practically nothing.

The younger Pendergrass claimed his father wasn’t in a stable enough mental state to make such a decision, not to mention the fact that Joan, rather than her husband, signed the will. Teddy Jr. then claimed he possessed the sole copy of his father’s legitimate will.

The will produced by Teddy Jr. was eventually declared a fake by the Montgomery County Pennsylvania Orphans Court, but not before the conflict tore the family apart, with many relatives and friends picking sides during the court case.

The dispute over his estate was settled out of court as his amended will was also disputed, with a judge asserting that his wife was wrong to sign on his behalf.

The decision from Judge Stanley Ott means the Pendergrass estate will remain under the control of his second wife, Joan.

Source: Ghanafuo.com