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RICHARD EARL PEGUE
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES & COMMENTS
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Hello beautiful people --
It is with great sadness that I have to tell y'all (who don't already know) that the great Chicago soul dusties dee-jay, Richard Pegue, passed away suddenly last week. I was a huge fan of his for years and listened to him every Friday night on WVON 1450 AM, and followed him on WKKC too (online) -- then, after finally "stalking him into submission," he most graciously agreed to be my first-ever guest on WXRT's fine Tuesday night show, The Eclectic Company, in February 2007.
For those two amazing hours he spun 45s, cracked jokes, and talked extensively about his long career in Chicago music & radio -- from starting a doo-wop group while a student at Hirsch High School, to becoming one of the WVON "Good Guys," hiring/resurrecting Herb Kent at WGCI, writing jingles for Moo & Oink and Funtown, interviewing Minnie Riperton and other soul greats, inventing the infamous "schwimps" commercial for Wallace's Catfish Corner, and on and on and on.
It was such a great honor to have Mr. Pegue on the radio. When I found out that I would be hosting my first show on WXRT and would be able to choose my guest, there was no hesitation -- Pegue was IT! And man, he "took me to school" -- all the while offering good-natured encouragement and showing saintly patience through my first-time hosting jitters and countless "uh-huhs..."
Mr. Pegue had also taught broadcasting at Columbia College, and was always helping others in the field -- and many of the WXRT dee-jays made it a point to come into the studio while we taped that day to express their gratitude for his instruction, expertise, and mentoring in the past.
As a tribute to my late friend, WXRT will present an encore airing of the Richard Pegue 2007 Eclectic Company show THIS TUESDAY, March 10th from 10PM until midnight, central time. Please tune in at 93.1FM in Chicago, or online from anywhere at http://www.wxrt.com If you dig on soul music, basement parties, Chicago history, or if you just wonder whatever happened to "cold duck" -- you will dig hard on this show.
Mr. Richard Pegue was an incredibly hard-working and energetic person who was very generous with his encyclopedic knowledge of radio -- and a dee-jay who was so obviously completely in love with the music he played. I will miss him very much. I already do.
Thanks for listening,
Kelly Hogan
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Austin Weekly News
3/4/2009 10:00:00 PM |
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TheBestMusicOf YourLife.com
Old school celebration: Richard Pegue with friends at his Dusty Record Convention in November 2008. |
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'Doctor Dusty' Richard Pegue dies at 64
Radio legend started career as program
By DELORES MCCAIN and TERRY DEAN
Contributing Reporters
In memoriam
His silky smooth voice comforted Chicago radio listeners for more than a decade. But the career of Richard Pegue spanned more than 40 years.
The man known as the "Doctor Dusty" for his love and knowledge of classic R&B records, died Tuesday morning of heart failure. Pegue (pah-gee) was 64 years old. His show, "The Best Music of Your of Life," has been a staple at WVON since 2000. He started his career at the urban radio station in 1968 as music director. He also worked for other stations, including WGCI for 13 years, hosting a Friday night dance party show with longtime friend Richard Steele.
Pegue's musical talents weren't just relegated to deejaying on the radio. The South Side native was an accomplished musician and songwriter. But his roots in radio began as a child, when his grandmother gave him a reel-tape recorder. He used the same recorder to DJ at parties while in his teens. He also formed a doo-wop group, The Belvederes, while in high school. He furthered his education in radio at Colombia College.
During his radio career, Pegue launched his Dusty Record Convention, its most recent one in November 2008. He suffered a stroke in 1996, spending six months in recovery before resuming his radio career.
Pegue was born in 1944 in Chicago. His mother was a beautician and his father a Chicago Police officer, who died in the line of duty when Pegue was 2 years old.
Copyright 2009, Austin Weekly News |
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Richard Pegue 1944-2009
Richard Pegue, 1944-2009: Disc jockey who spun dusties on Chicago radio
By Trevor Jensen | Tribune reporter
March 5, 2009
Richard Pegue, best known as an on-air spinner of "dusties" on Chicago radio, was also a savvy promoter and station manager who contributed to WGCI's rise to a ratings power.
Mr. Pegue (pronounced like McGee), 64, died of heart failure Tuesday, March 3, according to WVON, one of his former stations. He was a resident of South Holland.
Mr. Pegue most recently worked the midnight-to-6-a.m. Sunday shift at WKKC-FM 89.3, playing his familiar mix of rhythm-and-blues hits from the 1950s through the 1970s, backed by knowledgeable patter about the artists and arrangements, program director Al Greer said.
He called his show "The Best Music of Your Life," as he had since his days as one of the disc jockeys known as the "Good Guys" at WVON, where he became music director in 1968.
Over the years, he worked at a number of stations. But most notably, he had a lengthy stretch at WGCI, where he worked as program director and operations manager in addition to filling in on-air through the 1980s and 1990s.
"He's the guy I really credit with the success of WGCI today," said former WGCI president and general manager Marv Dyson, now director of operations at WKKC. "He's the guy who created the magic."
Mr. Pegue helped organize citywide treasure hunts for miniature WGCI buses, which when found through on-air clues led to cash rewards. The promotion was so popular, people were digging up yards and turning over cars, Dyson said.
"We had to start hiding them in plain sight," he said.
Another promotion offered gas at 50 cents a gallon, now a common stunt but not so at the time, Dyson said.
Mr. Pegue also helped assemble a roster of on-air talent that included Tom Joyner and Doug Banks and brought back radio legend Herb Kent during a lull in Kent's career, Dyson said.
Somewhat cantankerous, Mr. Pegue was never afraid to tell people what was on his mind, colleagues said.
"We called him a crotchety old man," Dyson said. "He was 64 years old. Richard acted like he was 90."
But at the annual Dusty Record Convention he organized each year, Mr. Pegue was the life of the party, spinning old favorites at a sellout BYOB buffet and dance.
Growing up on the South Side, Mr. Pegue started playing music at high school dances after getting a reel-to-reel player from his grandmother. His father, also named Richard, was a Chicago Park District police officer who was shot to death in 1946 by a suspected rapist.
At Hirsch High School, Mr. Hegue started a doo-wop group and wrote music. He later wrote "I'm Not Ready to Settle Down," which was recorded by the Cheers.
His best-known composition is likely the long-running jingle for Moo & Oink markets: "Wave for catfish—Moo & Oink! Scream for ribs—Moo & Oink!"
The jingle was replaced in 2006 by a rap number to appeal to younger people.
"They talk a different language," Mr. Pegue said philosophically in a Tribune story. "I'm more into the classics."
Mr. Pegue is survived by his wife, Sevina; four children; 14 grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in Robey Park Manor Funeral Home, 2510 Chicago Rd., Chicago Heights. A two-hour wake will precede services at 11 a.m. Monday in Apostolic Church of God, 6320 S. Dorchester Ave., Chicago.
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TIME OUT CHICAGO
Posted on March 4th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Chicago has been a hotbed of vintage soul lately. In addition to the Numero Group’s upcoming Eccentric Soul Revue at the Park West, the Ambassador East hotel currently is showcasing a week-long soul festival presented by a U.K. promoter. In the midst of all this activity, a giant of the Chicago scene has passed away. Richard Pegue—noted DJ, producer, songwriter and musician—died of a heart attack Monday.
Richard Pegue was born on July 29, 1944 in Chicago to a beautician and a policeman. More than any other local disc jockey (save for Herb Kent), Pegue did a lot to spread the concept of “dusties,” basically another way of saying “African-American oldies.” His Saturday dusties show jumped from station to station for the last 28 years, from high-wattage frequencies like WGCI-FM to college stations like Kennedy-King’s WKKC (which is where he could be heard in recent years), but still managed a deep following. At one point in the ‘80s, his show was so popular that a competing black station (the long-gone WBMX) slotted a similar show on Sunday afternoons.
As an old drop-in on Pegue’s show used to say, “when you hear the same songs on Sunday afternoons that you hear on Saturday nights, you know everybody’s listening to Richard Pegue and the Best Music Of Your Life!” The competing show on WBMX tanked. The DJs had little connection to the songs played, and often sounded like they didn’t want one, wisecracking, “This is my older brother’s record, I’m way too young to remember this!”
Pegue, as he pointed out, was there when it happened. He spun stories about the time he stole some guitar sheet music from a ’60s Gene Chandler session, or the time his old singing group were recording at Chess Records while “these ugly white guys” (better known as the Rolling Stones) waited their turn.
More importantly, he was proud of the local music scene. A typical Pegue show featured a heavy dose of the Chicago sound, usually from local acts who never broke nationally. Every now and then he’d play something he produced himself, like Renaldo Domino’s “Not Too Cool To Cry” (1969) or Little Ben & the Cheers’ “I’m Not Ready To Settle Down” (1965). In a city that boasted several producers with individualistic sounds, Pegue was not afraid to leave his touches all over a record—the Domino song is the only sweet soul song I can think of offhand with a fiddle solo. And true to his altar-boy roots, several of Pegue’s productions had eerie choral backgrounds.
On August 15, 2004, Pegue guested on Bob Abrahamian’s “Sitting In The Park” radio show on WHPK-FM; you can hear him tell his story here. If only for the TV jingles he created for the Moo & Oink meat shop, you know Pegue’s going to a good place. |
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| Chicago Reader
Legendary DJ Richard Pegue Died Tuesday
by Ben Joravsky on March 3rd 2009 - 2:54 p.m.
Richard Pegue was a Chicago radio legend, spinning soul and R & B at WVON and other stations from the 60s on into the 00s. He also wrote dozens of commercial jingles, including some classics for Moo & Oink.
After I profiled him for the Reader, back in 1998, we'd meet from time to time just to shoot the breeze, and we were supposed to have breakfast on Saturday. We won't be getting together after all. Richard Pegue died yesterday at 64 after suffering pains in his chest. Announcements will be forthcoming on his Web site.
Pegue was the son of a beautician and a Chicago Park District police officer killed in the line of duty in 1946. He met his destiny when his grandmother gave him a reel-to-reel tape recorder for his 11th birthday. I'll miss Richard's dry wit and good companionship, not to mention his radio shows. The man knew how to mix dusties like no one else. As I said in that profile, it was as though he could "merge past and present, taking his dancers back to the days when they were young and south-side soul ruled the world."
Comments
pat westbrook
March 3rd - 4:25 p.m.
Rest in peace Richard. GOD is love. I know they are jamming to the dusties right about now in heaven. Thanks for touching my life. Love, pat westbrook
Brenda Montgomery
March 3rd - 5:22 p.m.
Richard, thank you for my career in broadcasting. You took my dream seriously and gave me the chance of a lifetime. Thank you for your faith in me and for your friendship. God bless you, my friend, and truly rest in peace. Endlessly swept for you, Brenda Montgomery
Freddrenna
March 3rd - 7:42 p.m.
'The Best Music of Your Life' will be truly missed. Richard is gone but his legacy will live on and on and on. FYI Richard's grandmother Mrs. Mary Pullins is alive and well at 107 years of age.
Reggie Chaison
March 3rd - 7:45 p.m.
Richard was my alltime favorite DJ. I was lucky enough to meet & talk dusties. Whenever I called his show & requested the Skyliners, Chantels, or Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers he would always put me on the air because they were among his favorite groups. We will never see his like again he will surely be missed. A true iconic Chicago original
Donna Bradley
March 3rd - 8:16 p.m.
Richard, you were truly a dusties king. Everytime I fire up the turntable I will think of you, especially when I play The Radiants, One Day I'll Show You. Rest in peace, you will be missed by many.
blast from the past
March 3rd - 10:45 p.m.
Richard was one of the old WVON good guys. The good guys were giants in the radio community. I am going to play old soul dusties all week.
BEVERLY
March 4th - 6:57 a.m.
YOU TOOK CARE OF CHICAGO WELL.GOD SAID WELL DONE THY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT..ITS TIME TO COME HOME NOW ...SIR RICHARD
Jennetta Barnes
March 4th - 6:58 a.m.
RIP Mr Pegue, you still have a "funny name". I listened to the oldies and couldn't wait to hear the theme song and the little girl talking about his name. May God bless your family during this time of bereavement and give them comfort. You blessed many souls.
Moses
March 4th - 9:42 a.m.
Thanks for the great music you brought into our lives and the work you performed thruout the black community
Alvin Washington
March 4th - 10:03 a.m.
If you want a real history of Chicago radio in the Black community, two people you can count on to give it to you: Herb Kent and Richard Pegue. Well, one now....
RIP, Good Guy - generations of Black broadcasters raise their turntables in your honor.
Angie Ray-Griffith
March 4th - 10:48 a.m.
One of 3 of the most legendary Chicago radio personalities "from back in the day" (Richard Pegue, Herb Kent, Richard Steele) and a fellow Hirsch Huskies alum. You will surely be missed, Richard. Rest in peace
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David Walker
March 4th - 12:02 p.m.
Man,I remember working late saturday nights in the late 80's when Richard show would come on at midnight on WVON. I would look forward to his "Sho-nuff-Sleasy-Slimey-Scandalous Report!'He would just report on whatever & whoever was going on at the time.He really did play 'The Best Music Of Your Life".
I will miss his trademark closing his show with the song. "Stay awhile with me" R.I.P.Richard, You will be missed.
Cyndi Williams
March 4th - 12:43 p.m.
Richard thank you for the opportunity to work in radio even though I had zero experience or education in the field. Thank you for being my friend and for always being sincere. My condolences to Janice and Chris. I will forever miss and love you man,
Cyndi Woods-Williams
Chrissy
March 4th - 12:43 p.m.
Thank you Mr. Pegue for truly playing the "Best Music of My Life." It was a pleasure knowing you and may you forever rest in peace.
WK
March 4th - 3 p.m.
Stay awile with me, and you did. The first thing thing my bff from high school said" you stayed up all night to listen to him. I did his midnight to 5 am show.We had no disney channel. we were radio brats. God Blessed us with Richard and his gift.Chris you have big shoes to fill, I have haerd you on GCI, and you seem like a chip off the old block, time will tell. Thank you Richard, I will never forget that you stayed a while with us.
Susan Smith Ross
March 4th - 8:37 p.m.
Glad Richard Pegue was able to "Stay Awhile With" us because he truly played the "Best Music of [My] Life."
Joann Williams
March 5th - 1:41 a.m.
Richard, May God Bless and Keep you. Our prayers are with you and your family. I met Richard when I was his guest DJ at WOPA. That was 30 years ago. We became friends and I feel blessed for the precious time we spent together as friends. I had lunch with him about 4 weeks ago. I asked him what does "Stay a While With Me" mean to you? Is it a few hours, a day, a week or a life-time. He said: "A life-time". Thank you for being a very special part of my life with your humor, friendship and music. We love you and we'll miss you.
Harold Lee Rush
March 5th - 11:19 a.m.
Richard Pegue will surely be missed for his style, wit, musical knowledge, his love of Chicago and his outreach to the many he shared the opportunity to participate in broadcasting. Thank you, Richard, for giving us so much!
Harold Lee Rush
HAROLDLEERUSH.COM
Richard Sims
March 5th - 12:09 p.m.
Richard was as much a part of what it meant to visit or live in Chicago as driving down lakeshore drive and seeing the lake. He most certainly will be missed. The music he played will always prompt the sound of his voice. Thank you! Mr Pegue.
Rollo
March 5th - 3:37 p.m.
I remember when Richard Pegue worked at the Met Record Shop on 58th Street. I also remember the cover of the doo wop album that Richard recorded with his group on Chess Records. R.I.P.
kevin mcghee
March 5th - 6:10 p.m.
TO THE FAMILY OF RICHARDPEGUE HEWILL.TRULYBE MISSEDHEGAVEUSJOY THROUGH HIS MUSIC HAPPINESS WITH THE OUT REACH TO THE COMMUNITY BRINGING FAMILIES TOGETHER WITH HIS DUSTY CONVENTIONS MAY GODBLESS YOU THROUGH THIS TIME THANK YOU FOR SHAREING HIM WITH US.
Della Jones-Pipes
March 6th - 9:53 a.m.
Richard you knew I had a crush on you since 1967. When you told me you wrote Settle Down, that sealed the deal! As years past you developed a relationship with my son. He tried to follow you everywhere from the time he was 12. You and your wife and family were so good to him, and you taught him so much. He's 28 now and you still called him "junior". Rest well Dear Richard until we all see each other again. Junior (Lawrence Jr.) and I will never forget you. We loved you so very much! My prayers will be wirh you Sevina (Outer Drive Annie). Thank you for allowing my son into your lives. *hugs* What a wonderful experience for him. And what a darling Richard was to me for the last 40 years!! GOD BLESS and provide His comfort!
Andre Robinson
March 6th - 6:08 p.m.
Richard let me give you a list of people who will miss you dearly, Taste Entertainment, Lil's Something Kool, Chicago Department of Aging (79th Street), Chicago Department of Aging (West Ogden), Jackie Taylor (BET), Moo & Oink, Hyde Park Laundromat, Wallace Catfish Corner, Out of The Past Records, Original Pancake House (87th Street), Dusty Record Convention, Chicago Citizen and Streetwise Newspapers, Jane Addams Hull House, Chicago City Aldermen, Cincinnati (Dusty Radio), your New York voice over and your legion of fans from 1450, 1390, 95-AM, 89.3. RIP Richard, my dusty brother and radio godfather. Play "Heaven must be Like This" for us down here
"DJ Diamond" Darryl Blackmon
March 6th - 8:40 p.m.
I found out the sad news just today while here at work-It thought that it was appropriate that Richard passed just before this week-end because he would do a special Daylight Savings show when he'd play all songs that were time-related through title or topic. Every show he did was a lesson in musical knowledge and I fancied myself as one of his best students.Thank you Richard for what you taught the me and the world about "Dusty" records. We will miss you dearly and pray for your family-Please tell Pookie Hudson we said "Hello".
Joyce
March 6th - 9:16 p.m.
Thank you for those childhood memories of laying on the floor listening to the music we could not afford to buy. You were truly a "Legend" of Chicago music.
MAGNOLIA WRICE
March 7th - 11:51 a.m.
RICHARD PEGUE, MY FRIEND I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR ELEVEN YEARS AND I CAN REMEMBER MEETING YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE DUSTY RECORD CONVENTION IN 1998. YOU MADE ME FEEL SO SPECIAL AND ALSO MADE ME LAUGH AND FROM THEN ON UNTIL NOW I CAN SAY TO ANYONE THAT YOU ARE MY VERY SPECIAL FRIEND. MAY BLESS AND KEEP YOU SAFE IN HIS LOVING ARMS ALWAYS.........I WILL MISS YOU MY VERY SPECIAL FRIEND....LOVE YOU ALWAYS MAGNOLIA WRICE
March 7th - 12:21 p.m.
FROM YOUR YOUR FRIENDS ACROSS THE STREET FROM LIL'S SOMETHING KOOL, WE LOVE YOU RICHARD PEGUE AND MAY GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU ALWAYS.......WE WILL MISS YOU ON TUESDAY NIGHTS..........LOVE ALWAYS THE DEPT. OF HUMAN SERVICES
IMANI WRICE
March 7th - 12:29 p.m.
WHEN YOU MET MY MOM, I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD AND I AM STILL LISTENING TO DUSTIES AND MY FRIENDS WONDER WHY I LISTEN TO ALL THIS OLD MUSIC () BUT IN A WAY IT IS HISTORY TO ME AND LETS ME KNOW WHERE MY MOM IS COMING FROM SOMETIMES. THE OLDIES HAS MORE MEANING THAN SOME OF THE STUFF I LISTEN TO NOW. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU MR. PEGUE AND I AND MY MOM WILL MISS YOU......GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY ALSO.........LOVE IMANI WRICE
CRYSTAL WRICE-HOLLEY
March 7th - 1:41 p.m.
TO MR. RICHARD PEGUE AND FAMILY, MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS......I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING YOU AT THE TASTE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER. I CAME FROM MICHICAN CITY, IN TO CELEBRATE MY SISTER AND MR. RICHARD STEELE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY. AS A CHILD GROWING UP WITH SIX OLDER BROTHERS AND FIVE OLDER SISTERS, I COULD NOT HELP BUT TO HEAR YOU AND HERB KENT ALL OF THE TIME. WHEN I MET YOU AND YOU SHOWED ME SUCH HOSPITALITY AND I ALSO COULD NOT STOP DANCING TO THE DUSTIES...........YOU WERE AND ALWAYS WILL BE A GREAT LEGEND TO ME AND MY FAMILY........WE LOVE YOU RICHARD PEGUE. THANKS FOR STAYING AWHILE WITH US.
Martha Barnes
March 7th - 1:43 p.m.
Richard you embrace the black community with your dusties and gave us a place to go and relax to get our steppin on every Friday nite at the taste and every Tuesday at Lil something cool and I thank you for that I will miss you always
Sandra Barney
March 7th - 3:43 p.m.
When I was younger you were a positive role model for all of the young people in Park Way Gardens. I thought you were going to be a professioal photographer instead you became the best dusty d.j. from Chi Town. I am proud to have been a friend. I will miss you Richard and so will many others! |
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