Please, no jokes about him curing her melancolie infinite sadness yet. Save your pity for John Mayer.

By Perez Mills

Everybody recovered from the hangover that was the ‘00s? Make your New Year's resolutions yet? Good - this year/century's first, er, noteworthy musical news (aside from those skin disease-like tattoos Courtney Love recently got, of course) comes courtesy of Billy Corgan and Jessica Simpson.

You knew it was coming. No, silly, not the rumors about them getting married (which, if you parse the terminology of this press release, hardly justified the headline "Jessica Simpson to Marry Billy Corgan"). Plus, we already told you some time ago that the pair was, at least for the moment, a dating item. We're talking the news that the Smashing Pumpkins frontman and the former Mrs. Nick Lachey have been working together in the recording studio.

MTV News reports:

Jessica and Billy are working in the studio together. And this isn't news from friends of sources, but instead from Jessica's Twitter, Our favorite tweet appeared just the other day, when she tweeted a photo of herself and Corgan in the studio working on music that has since been removed. She has apparently been in the studio with him and producer Kerry Brown.

Indeed, if you head over to Jessica Simpson's Twitter feed, it's loaded with references to being into the studio with Corgan and Brown (@studiodog): "I am blessed - going over a song w/billy and the boxer"; etc.), while Brown's Twitter similarly references the sessions in spots. And the pair's photographer friend Kristin Burns took the above photo that's been making the rounds of the web.

No details yet on whether they're working on material for Simpson herself, or if she's doing vocals for the forthcoming Pumpkins projects. Here's hoping, however, that she's up on her flu shots, since sharing spit at a microphone can transmit many a contagious disease.

Plans to perform the entire classic album from '89.

By Blurt Staff

It's opposite day at BLURT, which means what better way to celebrate than by taking a trip to Bizarro World. Bizarro #1 - aka the Wedding Present's David Gedge - will be your tour guide. He's been keeping an eye on all those other bands who have been thrilling fans (and raking in the box office receipts) by performing classic albums in concert in their entirety - not the least of whom was Bruce Springsteen, who pulled out all the stops last year by doing several different complete albums at different tour stops.

So in honor of the forgoing plus the 21^st anniversary of the Wedding Present's classic '89 album Bizarro, Gedge has announced his intention to bring it all to you, the discriminating music fans.

Released in 1989, Bizarro remains a fan favorite and its notable tracks are "Brassneck" and "Kennedy."  The album marked the first official release for the band in North America and its major label debut (RCA).  The forthcoming April 2010 tour, much anticipated after the successful George Best 20th Anniversary Tour in 2007, will feature the album in full plus a few other new and old favorites. 

This ain't no April Fool's.... Incidentally, one of BLURT's fave bands The Jet Age will be opening on selected East Coast shows, so check 'em out.

April Tour Dates

1 : San Diego CA, USA - Casbah
2 : Los Angeles CA, USA - Troubadour
5 : Austin TX, USA - Emo's
7 : Atlanta GA - Earl with The Jet Age
9 : Washington DC, USA - Black Cat with The Jet Age
10 : Hoboken NJ, USA - Maxwell's with The Jet Age
11 : New York City NY, USA - Bowery Ballroom
12 : Cambridge MA, USA - Middle East Downstairs
14 : Toronto ON, Canada - Horseshoe Tavern
15 : Pontiac MI, USA - The Pike Room at The Crofoot
16 : Chicago IL, USA - Double Door
17 : Minneapolis MN, USA - 400 Bar
20 : Vancouver BC, Canada - To be confirmed
21 : Seattle WA, USA - Crocodile
22 : Portland OR, USA - Doug Fir Lounge
24 : San Francisco CA, USA - Independent

More than just a fun way to score a free bottle of Oxycontin...

By Fred Mills

Now HERE's a couple of eBay offerings you can sink yer teeth into, er, stick some sharp objects in. First up: a Pat Robertson Voodoo Doll, which is being auctioned off by some clever lad or lassie from L.A. in order to raise funds for Haitian relief. (Thanks to Blurt contributor Jason Gross for the tip.)

Recall that the right Rev. Pat said on a 700 Club broadcast last week that the earthquake and ensuing devastation in Haiti was the product of God's wrath: "They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon the third, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil."

Beyond the pale, yes, so here's your opportunity to own your very own voodoo doll that'll let you take a poke at the old blowhard anytime you feel like it.

According to the listing for item #190365539998, from vendor JohnnyVoodoo99

Finally!  What you've all been asking for!  A one of a kind, handmade PAT ROBERSTON VOODOO DOLL.

After an exclusive deal with devil, we are finally able to bring black magic into your very own home!  The lucky winner of this auction will attain the soul of Televangelist PAT ROBERTSON in a handheld figurine comprised of the finest straw, cloth, and other organic natural materials! 

Ever wanted to cause Pat Robertson a massive headache?  give him back pain?  jab him in the crotch?   Of course you have!  Well then BID NOW to own your very own pysical representation of the dark, dark soul of Pat Robertson.

Accessories included with the doll are Pat's very own "HOLY" BIBLE and BAG OF MONEY taken from real Americans!  WOW!

We'll take "jab him in the crotch" for 50 dollars, Alex!

Incidentally, the eBay auction pledges tht 100% of the profits from the sale will go to the American Red Cross.  As of this writing there have been 67 bids, and the current bid is $910, with 7 days left in the auction.

***

But wait, as the saying goes - there's more! JohnnyVoodoo99 is also auctioning off a Rush Limbaugh Voodoo Doll. Same deal, except that proceeds go to Doctors Without Borders.

According to the listing:

 Because you demanded it!!  A RUSH LIMBAUGH VOODOO DOLL!!

We've made another deal with the devil (He makes great deals!) and this time captured the soul of popular radio personality and convicted felon RUSH LIMBAUGH, putting it into a voodoo doll that fits right in your pocket!

Ever wanted to cause Rush Limbaugh to lose his voice?  Have him sprain an ankle?  Come down with a rash in his bathing suit area?  Of course you have!!!  Well then BID NOW to own your very own physical representation of the cold, empty soul of Rush Limbaugh.

Accessories included with the doll are Rush's very own MICROPHONE and PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE OF OXYCONTIN!  WOW!!!

Well, of course we'll take the "lose his voice" option.

19 bids thus far, currently at $218.50, with 9 days left in the auction. C'mon America, step up to the plate, and let's bid these suckers up into the stratosphere. And seriously, donate to both of the organizations if yours is not the winning bid.

Godfather of swamp-pop wrote hits for, and hobnobbed with, the legends, while forging his own distinct musical legacy.

By Blurt Staff

Another classic American voice was silenced this week: Bobby Charles Guidry, known internationally as Bobby Charles, passed away on January 14. He reportedly collapsed at his home in Abbeville, Louisiana, for as-yet-undisclosed reasons, although he had diabetes and had previously suffered from kidney cancer. He was 71.

Charles helped launch the "swamp-pop" movement - the style, geographically identified with south Louisiana and southeast Texas, was characterized by bluesy bass, twitchy guitar, honky tonk piano and, frequently, robust horns. In addition to penning huge hits for other performers (such as "See You Later, Alligator" for Billy Haley; "Walking To New Orleans" for Fats Domino and "(I Don't Know Why I Love You) But I Do" for Clarence "Frogman" Henry), he signed with Chess Records and joined several of that label's package tours - with Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon and others - as the only white man on the bus.

Charles wound up moving to Woodstock in the early ‘70s where he cut the cult-classic album Bobby Charles with The Band's Rick Danko producing; he subsequently appeared with the Band at the legendary Last Waltz in 1976. In general, though, he shunned the spotlight and was often referred to as reclusive, although his profile was certainly high enough to merit induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

2004 saw him release the acclaimed Last Train to Memphis, which was followed in 2008 by Homemade Songs. At the time of his death he'd recently finished a new album, Timeless, produced by Dr. John; it's reportedly due for release in February.

BLURT profiled Charles in our third issue (September 2008) and we'll have a full tribute to the man at the BLURT site on Monday.

Master wax-spinner defends his unalienable right to marry Mozart to Grandmaster Flash; classical music fans storm his compound in response. Free MP3 below.

By Blurt Staff

Turntablist Rob Swift (X-Men/X-ecutioners) is about to drop a boundary-pushing new release, The Architect, due Feb. 23 from Mike Patton's Ipecac label. We're advised the record reflects "his newfound love of classical music... as much in common with Mozart as it does with Grandmaster Flash. 

Wait - didn't we go through this back in the ‘80s already, with disco beats applied to classical music ("Hooked on Classics," "Classics on 45," etc.)?

At any rate, a quick glance at The Architect's track listing, below, reveals that Swift has created a conceptual piece of work.  Though mostly instrumental, the album is not a "concept album" but rather a series of compositions deliberately sequenced to form a greater, unified whole.  On "Principio," the album's lone MC, Breez Evahflowin, breaks it down when he spits "The way it's layed down, don't shuffle this LP / the truth is you'd miss something that's healthy / something like progress, the artform elevated / the next level of turntablism and innovators."

Though only two tracks contain vocals, The Architect is ripe with emotion and abstract narrative.  Orchestral strings and organs mingle with fierce breakbeats and expert scratching. Swift's exploration of manipulating pitch and tempo are executed and organized with the mindset of a virtuosic composer. 

Free MP3: "Rabia - 2^nd Movement"

Tracklisting:

01.    Overture
02.    Introduction
03.    The Architect
04.    Principio
05.    Story Of A Man
06.    Sound The Horn
07.    Prelude To The 1st Movement
08.    Rabia - 1st Movement
09.    Rabia - 2nd Movement
10.    Rabia - 3rd Movement
11.    D.R.E.W.
12.    Intermission
13.    Lower Level - 1st Movement
14.    Lower Level - 2nd Movement
15.    Lower Level - 3rd Movement
16.    Spartacus
17.    Sound The Horn (reprise)
18.    Ultimo

And a fine way to officially kick off the 2010 festival season. Among the performers: Billy Bragg, Dr Dog, The Mountain Goats, Leatherface, Rogue Wave, Delta Spirit, Senses Fail, Anti-Flag, Dead Prez, Kimya Dawson, Samiam, Torche, Strike Anywhere, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Dr. Octagon AKA Kool Keith, Small Brown Bike, Portugal. the Man, Black Sheep, Danielson, Coalesce, Man Man.

By Blurt Staff

The second annual Harvest of Hope Fest (HOH Fest) has announced the initial lineup for their multiple-stage music festival that will take place March 12th - 14th in sunny St. Augustine, FL. The festival serves to raise awareness and provide financial support for the Harvest of Hope Foundation, a charity organization that aids migrant farm workers across the country.

HOH Fest is the first multi-day concert of the 2010 festival season and uniquely different than many other festivals that will be happening this year. Last year, over 17,000 attendees took in over 100 punk, indie-rock, hip-hop, alt-country, folk, and blues bands.

This year's line up showcases a diverse roster once again with national and international acts including Billy Bragg, Dr Dog, The Mountain Goats, Leatherface, Rogue Wave, Delta Spirit, Senses Fail, Anti-Flag, Dead Prez, Kimya Dawson, Samiam, Torche, Strike Anywhere, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Dr. Octagon AKA Kool Keith, Small Brown Bike, Portugal. the Man, Black Sheep, Danielson, Coalesce, Man Man, forgetters (Ex-Jawbreaker/ Against Me!), plus over 150 more artists joining together to raise awareness to the plight of migrant farm workers! Harvest of Hope Fest is the only festival of its kind that has such a large group of musicians donating their time and performances to charity.

Harvest of Hope Fest is located on the 90-acre St. John's County Fairgrounds, just a short distance from historic St. Augustine and its beaches, and is within an easy drive of Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Gainesville. Ticket information, camping info, etc. at www.harvestofhopefest.com.

Three-day tickets are on sale now and will rise in price as the festival draws closer. From January 14th through February 11th, tickets will be available at the early-bird price of $39.50. From February 12th to March 11th, they will jump to $49.50. Walk-up 3-day tickets will be $60.00. Single day tickets will be available for $25.00/day in advance and $35.00/day weekend of. Three-day camping passes are also now available at $19.50/person. A small number of VIP passes are available at $99.50 per person. The VIP pass includes access to the VIP camping area, a three-day festival pass, and extra goodies to be revealed at a later date.

Proceeds from the charity fundraiser festival will benefit the Harvest of Hope Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides emergency and educational aid to some of the hardest working and often overlooked people keeping our agricultural economy moving - migrant farm workers. Harvest of Hope distributes funds to migrant farm workers and their families to help pay for food, medical services, clothing, rent, educational scholarships, and more. For more information on what Harvest of Hope Foundation does to aid migrant farm workers and how this grass roots foundation gained the support of a vibrant and diverse music community, please visit www.harvestofhope.net.



Confirmed Harvest of Hope Fest 2010 lineup as of 1/14/10:

Billy Bragg, Dr. Dog, The Mountain Goats, Rogue Wave, Delta Spirit, Senses Fail, Anti-Flag, Man Man, Dead Prez, Kimya Dawson, Torche, Strike Anywhere, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Sea Wolf, Dr. Octagon aka Kool Keith, Dead Confederate, A Wilhelm Scream, Portugal. the Man, Samiam, Leatherface, Dead to Me, Fruit Bats, Bear in Heaven, Freelance Whales, Cobra Skulls, Small Brown Bike, Glint, Danielson, Twin Tigers, Black Sheep, Coalesce, Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band, James Husband (of Of Montreal), Signals (ex-The Mae Shi), Ortolan, Mercury Program, Off With Their Heads, The Loved Ones, Past Lives, forgetters (ex-Jawbreaker & Against Me!), Andrew Jackson Jihad, Assholeparade, Defiance Ohio, Chris Wollard & the Ship Thieves, Bomb the Music Industry!, Dear Landlord, Young Livers, David Rovics, The Riot Before, This Bike is a Pipebomb, Des Ark, Ben Davis & The Jett$, Shellshag, Weatherbox, Holopaw, Hawks & Doves, Angelo Spencer, The Blacklist Royals, Lemuria, The Measure [sa], Paul Baribeau, Algernon Cadwallader, Your Heart Breaks, Fin Fang Foom, Yula Beeri, The Future Virgins, Good Luck, The Mezingers, Capsule, Ben + Vesper, Jon Snodgrass, Austin Lucas, Mike Hale, Street Eaters, O Pioneers!, Army of Ponch, Virgins, Gatorface, Protagonist, American Cheeseburger, Savage Brewtality, Brainworms, New Bruises, Tubers, Cory Branan, Look Mexico, Whiskey & Co., Worn in Red, Ninja Gun, Grabass Charlestons, FIYA, Spanish Gamble, Anchor Arms, How Dare You, Slow Claw, Heads Held High, The Casting Out, Low Red Land, The Itchy Hearts, Yardwork, Panthro UK United 13, Mumpsy, The Beauvilles, The Tim Version, Tiltwheel, Dan Padilla, The Future Now, D.P., City of Ships, Only Thunder, Sloane Peterson, Too Many Daves, Pretty Boy Thorson, Lost Hands Found Fingers, Nut Nut, Ornate Escape, and Mike Bernos.

It's simple: Put down the guitars and pull out the credit cards instead.

By Fred Mills

First things first: here's what you CAN do, just in case you don't feel like wading through the op-ed portion of this news item (which I've conveniently included below, following the break). These are reputable, professional organizations with extensive experience in planning and mobilizing humanitarian aid and you can feel secure in donating to them:

The Red Cross

Go to the official site to donate and meanwhile follow them on Twitter for updates on disaster relief progress along with details on their current fundraising. You may have heard that can you make direct $10 donations via your telephone by simply texting haiti to 90999 -  you'll get a reply text telling you to confirm by replying YES, and then there will be a subsequent thank-you confirmation. What's very cool about this is that no fees will be diverted to your cellphone carrier, and to date they've raised about $5 million; this has proven an immensely popular and easy method, needless to say.  It also appears that MasterCard (and hopefully other credit card companies) are waiving their usual transaction processing fees for donations to Haitian Aid Efforts.

AmeriCares

At their official site they indicate they've amassed about $3 million worth of medical aid and have already deployed about $2 million worth of supplies from their Amsterdam warehouse.

Oxfam International

Oxfam International is a confederation of 14 like-minded organizations working together and with partners and allies around the world to bring about lasting change by working directly with the impoverished and victims of injustice, and part of their efforts involve responding to emergencies such as this.

Partners In Health

This is the group that, as we reported yesterday, the Arcade Fire is familiar with and is urging people to send in their donations. According to the Fire's Win Butler, "Partners in Health's clinics are in situated the surrounding areas and haven't been damaged, they are mobilizing their resources towards the capital, setting-up field hospitals to treat the injured on the ground. Also, Paul Farmer (the founder of PIH) is at the UN and has access to the best information on where to direct the money."

UNICEF

The United Nations Children's Fund is one of the longest-running advocacy and relief organization for impoverished kids around the entire globe. According to UNICEF, "Expert estimates suggest that 46 per cent of Haiti's nearly 10 million people are under 18 years of age," so that should tell you something important right there.

Doctors Without Borders

This is an international medical humanitarian group and they've been on the ground from the outset in Haiti, dealing with the massive surgical needs of the earthquake's aftermath. While one might think what the organization needs right now is more doctors, there's a note on their website indicating they aren't equipped to immediately send new volunteers to the country as their thing is to respond swiftly using their immediate, existing pool of medical workers. So obviously what they need from us are donations.

The bottom line is, you can choose one or more of these or any designated organization of your choice, but the important thing is to donate, and now. Click on the links above to access their websites. On to the op-ed...

**********************************

Yesterday I was talking to a couple of musician friends about the Haiti earthquake and one of them said, "We should put together a benefit concert. What do you think?"

No, I replied. Instead, just make a direct donation.

Whenever there's a natural (or even man-inflicted) disaster that calls for humanitarian efforts, the music community instinctively tends to respond, as it has been responding ever since George Harrison organized the concert for Bangladesh, through the Band Aid/Live Aid era, and as recently as 9/11 and Katrina. Benefit concerts, benefit recording projects, etc. are and in many cases should be the norm, and I've been involved in a number of them over the years. What's sometimes lost in the glow of good deed-doing, however, is the lack of immediacy these events and projects have unless they can be mounted on a fairly substantial scale - we're talking bringing in the U2s, the Springsteens, the McCartneys, the larger than life personalities who can get the general public caught up in the spirit of giving.

Today it was announced that George Clooney is getting a telethon together to air on MTV networks, and of course he's got the kind of star wattage that can make a difference. Other celebrities are using their influence to also make a difference.

Most of us are not celebrities however, and while fundraisers on a local level are appropriate precisely on that count, e.g. a tragedy or an issue that has to be addressed locally, by all means, musicians, promoters, clubs, journalists, etc. should get involved. But when there's something like what's happened in Haiti, a local benefit concert can't possibly address the immediate needs in any meaningful way, other than to make the participants feel good about themselves and possibly spur others into more extensive action. In this instance, "think global/act local" isn't sufficient - the scale is just too immense.

Don't get me wrong: I'm not blind to the fact that if it were possible to coordinate hundreds or thousands of local benefits specifically for Haitian relief, a good deal of money might be raised. People tend to get "benefit fatigue," however, and such local efforts generally fall far short of being more than panacea-effective.

So in this situation, what charities such as the Red Cross, Oxfam International, Doctors Without Borders and Partners in Health really need IS. YOUR. DONATION. NOW.

That's right now. Not later, after door receipts from the fundraiser down at the local club are tallied. In fact, if every penny that would otherwise be used on printing, advertising, overhead, gasoline... hell, beer and booze and bar tips, too!... was simply diverted to an individual donation, you'd bring in tons more money for the relief effort.

Does a public show of compassion do any good? Of course it does. And consciousness raising is important too. But seriously, to all of you out there right now trying to think of what you can do, why not just keep things simple: open up your wallet, pull out a credit card or write a check directly to the pertinent relief agencies. Then call or email and otherwise browbeat your friends and neighbors into doing the same thing. Put links out on Twitter and on your Facebook pages. Make people feel guilty they haven't done something.

And obviously, there are local relief agencies getting involved, by all means donate to them whatever they are calling for - money, water, canned food, blankets - because they are professionals and they know how this kind of thing is done. But make a direct donation, and to do it NOW.

Again, none of this is to make musicians and the music community feel like they shouldn't get involved. But it all has to be taken into perspective in terms of what the priorities at hand are, and to be honest right now the people in Haiti don't need your guitars, your songs, your on-stage platitudes, your recording studio efforts, etc. They need food, water and medical care, and that's something only the professionals can do at the moment. Those professionals don't need the guitars ‘n' tunes either - they need your dough.

New rec due in March from London loonies.

By Blurt Staff

Okay hepcats, Archie Bronson Outfit return with a new album, Coconut, on March 23. Coconut is the London based three-piece's first LP in almost four years and their third album for Domino. 2006's Derdang Derdang made our best-of list that year (back when we were known as Harp) so we expect nothing less than greatness this time around.

It's described as "switching between full on deep-end rock and more reflective, beat-driven numbers... a modern psychedelic testament delivering a visceral shot of pleasure."

Hey, we are all about visceral shots of pleasure.

Recording sessions took place in London and Benton Harbour, Michigan, with production from DFA's Tim Goldsworthy (LCD Soundsystem, The Rapture, Hercules & Love Affair).

Tracklisting:

1. Magnetic Warrior
2. Shark's Tooth
3. Hoola
4. Wild Strawberries
5. Chunk
6.1 You Have A Right To A Mountain Life / 6.2 One Up On Yourself
7. Bite It & Believe It
8. Hunt You Down
9. Harness (Bliss)
10. Run Gospel Singer

The band will tour the UK in March followed by North America in May.

Finally getting down to promoting the Curse Your Branches album. A must-see tour.

By Blurt Staff

Ex-Pedron the Lion mainman David Bazan, who released Curse Your Branches this year as his first solo album, has just announced an extensive U.S. tour that kicks off March 4 and runs through mid April. It's sure to be a must-see tour, considering how rabid Bazan's fan base - both in the Christian and the secular music communities - tends to be.

The record is the deepest and most explicit exploration of his struggles with faith and the Evangelical world in which he was raised to date, and a meditation on all things passed between the generations. Since its release Curse Your Branches notched scores of "Best of 2009" nods.

As BLURT put it in our review, "He's voicing the doubts and dichotomies that comprise any thinking person's faith. He's got a knack for ironic wordplay, graceful dirges and understated pop hooks, too, and that's translated into good drama and songs."

Bazan was featured in an in-depth profile in the latest issue of our print magazine, and we'll be publishing the entire, expanded version of that article on the website shortly, so keep your eyes peeled.

DAVID BAZAN ON TOUR:

March:

04 EUGENE, OR - Sam Bond's !@
05 SACRAMENTO, CA - Blue Lamp !@
06 VISALIA, CA - Cellar Door !@
07 SANTA BARBARA, CA - SOhO Restaurant and Music Club !#
08 LONG BEACH, CA - Alex's Bar !@
09 LAS VEGAS, NV - Beauty Bar !@
10 TEMPE, AZ - Sail Inn !@
12 NORMAN, OK - Opolis !@
13 SPRINGFIELD, MO - Gallery Sounds !#
14 ST. LOUIS, MO - Old Rock House !@
15 NEWPORT, KY - Southgate House !#
17 NASHVILLE, TN - Exit In !@
18 ASHEVILLE, NC - Grey Eagle Tavern and Music Hall !#
19 COLUMBIA, SC - New Brookland !@
20 RICHMOND, VA - Alley Katz !$
21 BALTIMORE, MD - Ottobar !#
22 PHILADELPHIA, PA - First Unitarian !#
23 BROOKLYN, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg !$
27 GRANTHAM, PA - Larsen Student Union at Messiah College !@
28 COLUMBUS, OH - Summit !$
29 BLOOMINGTON, IN - Bishop !$
30 GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Ladies Literary Club !#

April:

03 DEKALB, IL - House Café !#
04 MILWAUKEE, WI - Pabst Theater !@
05 ST. PAUL, MN - Turf Club !@
06 FARGO, ND - Aquarium !@
08 MISSOULA, MT - Palace $
09 SPOKANE, WA - Empyrean #
10 BELLINGHAM, WA - WWU Viking Union Multi-Purpose Room #


! with Headlights

@ 21+
# all-ages
$ 18+

Soulful icon had continued to perform despite becoming paralyzed from a car accident.

By Fred Mills

Smooth-singing soul superstar Teddy Pendergrass died yesterday, Jan. 13, in the aftermath of colon cancer surgery some 8 months ago followed by what his son said was "a difficult recovery," according to media reports. His son, Teddy Pendergrass II, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the senior Pendergrass died in Philadelphia's Bryn Mawr Hospital.

Pendergrass, originally a drummer, hit the charts in a big way in the ‘70s when he became lead vocalist for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes ("If You Don't Know Me By Now"), later going on to a hugely successful solo career with hits such as "I Don't Love You Anymore," "Close the Door," "Turn off the Lights" and "Love TKO," many of them penned by the legendary Philly-based songwriting team of Gamble and Huff.

In 1982 he was in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down, but though wheelchair-bound he continued to perform. Throughout his career he scores of singles and received 5 Grammy nominations. He also established the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance, an organization that worked with individuals who had spinal cord injuries.

"To all his fans who loved his music, thank you," his son said. "He will live on through his music."