HR0153 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0153 LRB096 11902 GRL 23035 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Richard E. Pegue, who passed away on March 3, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Richard Pegue was born in Chicago on July 29, 1944; he attended Cornell Elementary School, Morgan Park High School, and Columbia College; and

WHEREAS, By the age of 16, Richard Pegue was working as a DJ at dances on Chicago's South Side; during the 1960s, he sang and played the guitar and piano with a doo-wop group, the Norvells; he also wrote several songs, including "Which One Am I?", "Nevermore", "This is the Woman", and "I'm Not Ready to Settle Down"; and

WHEREAS, In 1968, Richard Pegue was named music director at WVON, where he worked until 1975; he then worked for several stations, including a stint at WGCI; he also wrote radio commercial jingles while working at WGCI, including the theme for the Fun Time Amusement Park, a tune for the Moo & Oink meat company, and a song called "Gas for 50 cents"; and

WHEREAS, Richard Pegue was a part of "The Good Guys", a hand-picked crew of on-air personalities who were selected for WVON Radio when it was started in 1963 by Leonard and Phil Chess, owners of Chess Records; he was well known for his work on the station's overnight shift, where his theme song suggested "Stay Awhile with Me" while he played "dusties", his rhythm-and-blues version of oldies; and

WHEREAS, Richard Pegue is survived by his wife, Sevina, and his three children; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Richard E. Pegue; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Richard Pegue as an expression of our sympathy.