From
Philadelphia. "
Teddy Bear"; a tenor
growl that the ladies love (
or so I'm told). He was the
drummer in the backing band for Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, but he gained a
singing role, one that increased until, at last, he became the lead
singer. This was, arguably, his prime (the
ladies would disagree): "
Bad Luck" and "
If You Don't Know Me By Now" (from the mid
70s) are two classix of
Philly Soul. He
went solo.
His early solo career was characterized by the
consolidation of the Teddy Bear Mystique, with makeoutmusik like "Close the Door" and "Turn Off the Lights"; he had his moments, but it was, in general, Love Man self-parody (there was even a "For Women Only" tour - "wives, leave your husbands at home!" sort of stuff) compared to the
preachifyin' highs of the best Blue Notes material (Ain't love a... can I get a witness?).
He was paralyzed in a 1982 auto accident; after rehab, he resumed his career, but in somewhat muted form. It would take years for him to regain the vocal power that had established him.