Love conquers all; tender loving care of wife Karen helps Teddy Pendergrass survive toughest test

Ebony, Feb, 1989 by Marilyn Marshall

TEDDY Pendergrass doesn't just sing about the power of love. He knows about it first-hand. So when he serenades music fans with his soulful, velvety voice, he can easily point to his love affair with his wife of 20 months, Karen.

They were married in a small, intimate ceremony in their suburban Philadelphia home, capping off a relationship that began 11 years ago when she was a dancer on his concert tour. Though they were attracted to each other from the start, they became friends first and lovers a year later.

The two were still going strong when Teddy's life took a tragic-and much publicized-turn. On March 18, 1982, the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit he was driving crashed into a tree, and the popular performer was left paralyzed from the waist down. Teddy, of course, courageously came through the most trying time of his life, and Karen was right by his side. He says that through it all, "she never faltered, she never wandered, and she never let it become a major issue in our relationship." Despite the paralysis, despite the interruption in Teddy's lucrative career, despite the uncertainty about his future, Karen hung in there, taking care of him, encouraging him, helping nurse him back to health, giving him the strength and courage to deal with his tragedy and eventually bounce back. Describing his wife's impact on his life, Teddy breaks into a song and croons, "If could sum it all up in one phrase, I am truly blessed."

He also has been blessed in his professional life. His latest album, joy which is a collection of love songs, has sold nearly a million copies and has produced three top-five singles, Joy,' "Love Is The Power," and 2 a.m.' There is also a 2 a. m." video. With the success of the album, Teddy reaffirms what his faithful fans have known all along: when it comes to singing love songs, he is still one of the best.

Now that he has a woman who has brought joy into is life, Teddy, 38, can't say enough good things about her. He says Karen possesses all the qualities he desires in a wife. "She's kind, considerate, giving, honest and intelligent," he says. "Besides, I think she's cute as a button."

Karen, 35, finds her husband equally appealing. "He's strong, he's highly motivated and he's always striving to do better," she says, adding that he is sexy, too." "He always did have that magic touch," she says, "and I can't ignore that. Some things work and some things don't; we did."

Teddy is also a romantic man, as he proved when he proposed to Karen. She still gets emotional when she recalls how, in December 1986, he sent her roses 12 days in a row, starting with one on the first day and ending with a dozen on the 12th day. She says that after that, "He gave me one single rose that had my engagement ring tied under the stem. He said, This is for you.' Then, he asked if I would marry him. I cried, and I said Yes."'

The couple were married six months later, with family members and close friends present. Attendants were Teddy's three children, Tisha, 15; Donna, 14, and Teddy jr., 13. Teddy says another reason he adores his wife is because of her relationship with his kids. "She's a perfect mother," he says.

Teddy and Karen lead busy lives. He's already working on another album and spends a lot of time meeting with producers and writers and working in the studio. Karen, an accomplished professional dancer, teaches at Philadanco, a Black Philadelphia dance company.

they like to spend their leisure time together relaxing in their elegant home, taking in a movie or play, going to the park, or riding around enjoying nature. "We have always had a lot in common," she says. "So it's never like, You can't watch the football game.'Instead, it's Let's bet on the football game."' The Pendergrasses also share a deep belief in God.

Like most couples, they occasionally have their spats, but Karen says: "We don't have heavy, heavy arguments. We do a lot of talking." Teddy agrees and adds, "You won't see any pans flying around here." Karen feels that one reason their marriage works is because they were friends first. "We started with a good base," she says.

She also admits that she wasn't always sure she could handle being married to a celebrity who is worshipped and adored by countless women. "But I knew Teddy needed someone strong, because I knew him and I knew what be expected," she says.

It was Teddy's effect on females that helped propel him to stardom. Born in Philadelphia, he was an ordained minister at age 10 and a promising drummer at 13. In 1968, while a drummer with a group called the Cadillacs, he and other members were recruited as the back-up band for Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. Teddy became the lead vocalist in 1970. They turned out such hits as "Wake Up Everybody," "The Love I Lost," and "If You Don't Know Me By Now."

In 1976, Teddy left the group for a solo career. His 1977 debut album, Teddy Pendergrass, earned platinum status, and was followed by four more million-sellers. By that time the singer had become a sex symbol and delighted his followers with such sexy tunes as "Close the Door" and "Turn Off the Lights." Fans flocked to his "For Women Only" concerts to see the handsome, well-built singer whose symbol was a teddy bear.