Influential soul singer Teddy Pendergrass has died at the age of 59, his son has confirmed.

Teddy Pendergrass II said his father died in hospital in Philadelphia after failing to recover fully from colon cancer surgery eight months ago.

Pendergrass is best remembered as the frontman of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes and sang massive hits like 'If You Don't Know Me By Now' and 'The Love I Lost'.

He pursued a solo career in 1976 but tragedy struck six years later when he was paralysed from the waist down when his Rolls-Royce was involved in a crash.

Despite his injury, he went on his first solo tour since the accident in 2001.

His son said: "To all his fans who loved his music, thank you. He will live on through his music."

Pendergrass was the the first black singer to score five consecutive platinum albums in the US.

(by Scott Colothan)