# Bill “Billy” Jolly – Love TKO, Teddy Pendergrass Tribute & The Future of Tribute Bands EP 018

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/tribute-band-sessions-7519845/bill-billy-jolly-love-tko-teddy-pendergrass-tribute-the-future-of-tribute-bands-ep-018
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/tribute-band-sessions-7519845/bill-billy-jolly-love-tko-teddy-pendergrass-tribute-the-future-of-tribute-bands-ep-018.md
Podcast: [Tribute Band Sessions](https://stenobird.com/podcast/tribute-band-sessions-7519845)
Published: 2026-01-28T12:09:00+00:00
Episode link: https://tributebandsessions.com/
Audio file: https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/PAN5007259650.mp3?updated=1765769925
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/tribute-band-sessions-7519845/episodes/bill-billy-jolly-love-tko-teddy-pendergrass-tribute-the-future-of-tribute-bands-ep-018
Duration seconds: 3643

## Resource

In this episode of Tribute Band Sessions, host Mike Gendler sits down with Bill “Billy” Jolly – a three-time Emmy Award–winning producer, writer, and musical director and the MD of Love TKO: The Teddy Pendergrass Tribute Band. Born and raised in West Philadelphia, Bill shares how Motown bass lines, James Brown’s “Cold Sweat,” and the lush productions of Tom Bell, Gamble & Huff shaped his ears. He walks us through his journey from local drummer to touring pianist with Norman Connors (“You Are My Starship”), MD for Gene Kahn and Grover Washington Jr., and eventually music director for Teddy Pendergrass after Teddy’s accident. Bill talks about: Working with legends like Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt, Chaka Khan, Tina Marie, Bill Withers, Phyllis Hyman, Patti LaBelle, Michael Bublé, Michael Bolton, Celine Dion, Pink, The Roots, Jadakiss and more What it really takes to be a successful musician (“be a Walmart, not a Dunkin’ Donuts”) Writing full orchestral arrangements for PBS, symphonies, and even Tony Danza’s Frank Sinatra tribute How Love TKO was formed with original Teddy band members and why having the official endorsement of the Teddy Pendergrass estate matters Why tribute bands exist, how they fill a real emotional and musical need, and his advice for new tribute bands on setlists, venues, and marketing From panties still flying onstage to building the perfect Teddy set, Bill explains how Love TKO makes audiences feel 18 again for 90 minutes – and why tribute bands aren’t going anywhere. Subscribe, like, and drop a comment with the Teddy song you’d HAVE to hear at a Love TKO show. #BillJolly#LoveTKO#TeddyPendergrass#TributeBandSessions#PhillySoul 🎸 Listen & Follow Tribute Band Sessions: 🌐 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🍎 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📸…

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