Teddy Pendergrass has died at the age of 59.

Teddy Pendergrass II, Teddy Pendergrass son, said his father died yesterday at Bryn Mawr Hospital. He underwent colon cancer surgery eight months ago."To all his fans who loved his music, thank you," "He will live on through his music." Pendegrass II said.

Pendergrass was raised by his mother, Ida Epps, in North Philadelphia, and started singing in public at an early age. At age 21/2, he recalled in an interview in 2007 that he stood up on chair at the Glad Tidings Baptist Church and sang "If I Could Write A Letter To Heaven." "I was just a little bitty guy," he said. "I had to be seen. Always been my problem."