Philadelphia Renames Street in Honour of Soul Legend Teddy Pendergrass

The city of Philadelphia has paid tribute to one of its most celebrated musical icons, renaming a section of South Broad Street after the late soul singer Teddy Pendergrass.

A ceremony was held on Friday, 26 July, to unveil Teddy Pendergrass Way on the 400 block of South Broad Street, an area also known as the Avenue of the Arts. The location is near the former headquarters of Philadelphia International Records, the label that helped launch Pendergrass’s career.

“Teddy Pendergrass meant everything to Philadelphia,” said his widow, Joan Pendergrass. “He was born, raised, and passed away here. This city was truly his heart and soul.”

Pendergrass, who died in 2010 at the age of 59 following respiratory complications, rose to fame in the 1970s as the lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. He later launched a successful solo career, becoming one of the most distinctive voices of American soul music.

Known for his rich baritone and emotive performances, Pendergrass recorded multiple platinum albums and delivered classics such as Turn Off the Lights, Close the Door, and Love T.K.O.

His family, including his son Teddy Pendergrass Jr., attended the ceremony. “It’s overwhelming,” his son said. “To see this recognition, after all these years, shows what my father still means to this city.”

The honour also comes amid renewed interest in Pendergrass’s life story. A biopic has been in development for several years. Actor and singer Tyrese Gibson was originally attached to the project but became embroiled in a legal dispute with the late singer’s widow over film rights. That lawsuit was dropped in 2023, allowing the project to proceed.

The street naming marks a permanent tribute to a man whose voice helped define a generation and whose legacy remains deeply intertwined with the city that raised him.