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.
