PHILADELPHIA TO RENAME 400 BLOCK OF SOUTH BROAD STREET “TEDDY PENDERGRASS WAY” IN HONOR OF LATE R&B LEGEND
Ceremony to Include Speeches From Mayor Cherell Parker,
City Councilmember Mark Squilla & More
Performance By LOVE TKO: The Official Teddy Pendergrass Tribute Band To Follow
CELEBRATION TO START AT 12PM ET ON SATURDAY, JULY 26th, 2025
Philadelphia, PA (July 18, 2025) – 2025 marks a momentous year for one of Philadelphia’s most iconic voices, Teddy Pendergrass, as the city announces today that it will rename the 400 Block of South Broad Street, “Teddy Pendergrass Way.” Honoring what would have been the legendary R&B singer’s 75th birthday, celebrations will kick off at 12pm ET on Saturday, July 26th, 2025, at the intersection of Broad & Pine Streets.
Co-hosted by WDAS’ Patty Jackson and esteemed music advocate Dyana Williams, the ceremony will feature a Mayoral Special Proclamation from Mayor Cherell Parker and Official Resolution from Councilmember Mark Squilla. Highlights will include remarks by Jessica Avila, stepdaughter of Teddy Pendergrass and board member of the Teddy and Joan Pendergrass Foundation, as well as a special performance by three-time Emmy Award-winning composer Bill Jolly, featuring Teddy’s latest single, “I Am Who I Am” released to streaming on June 13th. The event will conclude with a ribbon cutting ceremony and wrap with closing remarks from Teddy’s widow, Joan Pendergrass, to honor his timeless legacy. Full run of show below.
Following the ceremony, fans can enjoy all the hits they know and love as LOVE TKO, the Official Teddy Pendergrass Tribute Band, will take the stage at City Winery Philadelphia. Doors open at 1pm ET, with a special tribute to Teddy’s life story at 2pm, and concert beginning at 3pm. For tickets and more information, please visit teddypendergrassofficial.com.
Teddy Pendergrass Street Naming Ceremony Official Run of Show:
12:00 PM 12:05 PM Opening Remarks: Hostesses Dyana Williams and Patty Jackson
12:05 PM 12:10 PM Speaker: Mayor Cherell Parker
12:10 PM 12:15 PM Speaker: Councilmember Mark Squilla
12:15 PM 12:20 PM Speaker: Jessica Avila
12:20 PM 12:25 PM Musical Selection: Bill Jolly
12:25 PM 12:30 PM Speaker: Sean Lewis of Primary Wave
12:35 PM 12:40 PM Street Sign Presentation and Ribbon Cutting
12:40 PM 12:45 PM Closing Remarks: Joan Pendergrass
Get Tickets to the after-show here: https://citywinery.com/philadelphia/events/love-tko-the-official-teddy-pendergrass-tribute-l5sc74
About Teddy Pendergrass:
Beginning as a drummer in his late teens for the vocal group the Cadallics, it was clear that Teddy Pendergrass was musically talented. Following the Cadallics, Pendergrass took the lead singer spot for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, marking the beginning of his path towards stardom. Throughout his career, Pendergrass received several Grammy nominations during 1977 and 1978, Billboard’s 1977 Pop Album New Artist Award, an American Music Award for best R&B performer of 1978, and awards from Ebony magazine and the NAACP. TP, his fifth solo album, went platinum in the summer of 1980 off the singles “Turn Off the Lights,” “Come Go with Me,” “Shout and Scream,” “It’s You I Love,” and “Can’t We Try.” It’s Time for Love gave Pendergrass another gold album in summer 1981, which included the hit singles “Love TKO” and “I Can’t Live Without Your Love.” Pendergrass’ husky, potent baritone remains a soul sensation to this day.
