R&B legend Teddy Pendergrass passed away Wednesday evening (January 13) at a hospital in Philadelphia, after succumbing to complications from a past illness.

He was 59 years old.

According to reports, the singer was paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident in 1982, but most recently, he underwent colon cancer surgery months ago and had "a difficult recovery," his son Teddy Jr said.

"His beloved family surrounded him. The world has lost one of its greatest voices and performers," his publicist, Lisa Barbaris, said in a statement. "His family is devastated. He has three children and, even though it was expected, it still hurts."

Pendergrass started his career with a group called the Cadillacs in the late 1960s and was still with the group when it merged with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, says his official website.

Then he embarked on a solo career in 1977 when he dropped his self-titled debut. He went on to enjoy solo success, releasing classic songs such as "Close the Door" and "Turn Off the Light," and receiving many accolades such as Grammy nominations, Billboard's 1977 Pop Album New Artist Award and an American Music Award for best R&B performer of 1978.

In 1982, Pendergrass was involved in a car accident that left him paralyzed. However, he returned to the studio in 1984 in his wheelchair to record an album.

According to Barbaris, he was working on a musical documenting his life, called "I Am Who I Am," before he died.