Pendergrass Retains Power, Passion

“I want to welcome you all to a wonderful night of love....”

Teddy Pendergrass still knows how to set a mood. At the Wiltern Theatre on Thursday, he was a loverman as passionate and convincing as Al Green or Barry White, singing soulful love songs and party tunes that resonated as deeply as ever.

That hasn’t changed, despite a 1982 car accident that left the Philadelphia-based singer in a wheelchair. If anything, Pendergrass’ performance suggested that he has found inspiration with the accelerating rebirth of his live performing career.

Thursday’s rare Los Angeles appearance came near the end of six months on and off the road. The 75-minute concert opened with “Joy,” his 1986 comeback hit single. It was slick, funky R&B;, but the song gained infinite depth from Pendergrass’ delivery, rich with palpable feelings of warmth and excitement.

Despite his limited mobility, Pendergrass never stopped moving, bobbing excitedly to the beats, raising an arm, talking to fans. His sidemen handed out teddy bears to women in the audience, and Pendergrass invited a woman onstage for a romantic serenade.

When she returned to her Valentine’s Day date, Pendergrass smiled and said, “All right, brother. It’s on you now,” a light sermon on romance.

After finding fame as a member of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Pendergrass began a solo career that bridged a gap between classic ‘70s soul and the highly polished R&B; of the early ‘80s. But his own music rarely succumbed to formulas, never lost the fire of such early Blue Notes hits as “If You Don’t Know Me by Now.”

If anything, Pendergrass on Thursday outshined his original recordings. He also thanked the audience for helping him demonstrate how his musical life remained unrestrained. By then, the case was already made.