VOA标准英语2010年-American Soul Singer Teddy Pendergrass

Teddy Pendergrass (R) performs at the Good Neighbor Community Outreach Celebration, Philadelphia, in this Aug 2000 file photo

 Legendary rhythm-and-blues singer Teddy Pendergrass died of colon¹ cancer January 13 at a hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He was 59.  The dynamic crooner was known to millions simply as "TP." 

Although Teddy Pendergrass became famous for his smoldering² baritone vocals³ and seductive stage presence, he first worked as a drummer in Philadelphia's premier⁴ soul group Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes.  When Teddy was promoted to lead singer, The Blue Notes rose to new heights on the Philly International Records label, producing one of the biggest R&B hits of 1972, "If You Don't Know Me By Now."

Teddy continued to record for Philly International after leaving Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes for a solo career in 1976.  The label's co-founder and composer Leon Huff recalled the singer's solo debut⁵ at a nightclub in Los Angeles, saying "When Teddy walked out on the stage, he didn't even open his mouth and the place went crazy with screaming females."

Riding his success with five successive multi-platinum albums and a string of hit ballads⁶ like "Close The Door," Teddy's career suddenly took a tragic⁷ turn.  In 1982, he was nearly killed in a car accident in Philadelphia that left him paralyzed from the waist down and bound to a wheelchair for life.  While most thought he would never return to the stage or studio, Pendergrass surprised fans with his first appearance from his wheelchair at the Live Aid concert in 1985.

Teddy's first album after the accident was "Love Language," featuring the duet "Hold Me" with then up-and-coming singer Whitney Houston.  He continued to record throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and he even starred in a touring company of the gospel musical "Your Arms Too Short to Box with God."  In 1998, he released his autobiography⁸, "Truly Blessed."  Although he announced his retirement⁹ in 2006, he performed in "Teddy 25: A Celebration of Life, Hope and Possibilities" in 2007.  The event raised money for his charity The Teddy Pendergrass Alliance.
 

1 colon   

n.冒号，结肠，直肠

参考例句：

• Here,too,the colon must be followed by a dash.这里也是一样，应当在冒号后加破折号。
• The colon is the locus of a large concentration of bacteria.结肠是大浓度的细菌所在地。

2 smoldering   

v.用文火焖烧，熏烧，慢燃( smolder的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The mat was smoldering where the burning log had fallen. 燃烧的木棒落下的地方垫子慢慢燃烧起来。 来自辞典例句
• The wood was smoldering in the fireplace. 木柴在壁炉中闷烧。 来自辞典例句

3 vocals   

（乐曲中的）歌唱部份，声乐部份( vocal的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Also look out for soaring vocals on The Right Man. 另外，也可留意一下《意中人》中的那高亢的唱腔。
• Lazy bass line, lazier drums, lush violins, great piano and incomparable vocals. 懒惰的低音线，较懒惰的鼓，饮小提琴，棒的钢琴和无比的声音。

4 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

5 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

6 ballads   

民歌，民谣，特别指叙述故事的歌( ballad的名词复数 )； 讴

参考例句：

• She belted out ballads and hillbilly songs one after another all evening. 她整晚一个接一个地大唱民谣和乡村小调。
• She taught him to read and even to sing two or three little ballads,accompanying him on her old piano. 她教他读书，还教他唱两三首民谣，弹着她的旧钢琴为他伴奏。

7 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

8 autobiography   

n.自传

参考例句：

• He published his autobiography last autumn.他去年秋天出版了自己的自传。
• His life story is recounted in two fascinating volumes of autobiography.这两卷引人入胜的自传小说详述了他的生平。

9 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。