Percy Sutton Remembered (Nov 24, 1920-Dec 26, 2009)

“He was a great man,” commented Charles Warfield Jr., the president and chief operating officer of ICBC Broadcast Holdings Inc., to the Associated Press on the passing of the broadcast media’s chairman, Percy Ellis Sutton, 89.

The pioneering civil rights attorney who also represented Malcolm X before entering politics and developing his media empire that included the first black-owned radio station in NYC—WLIB-AM—which he purchased with his brother Oliver in 1973, and the Inner City Broadcasting empire’s flagship, famed WBLS-FM (107.5), New York’s top-rated station. The media empire grew to eventually include stations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, Jackson, Mississippi and Columbia, SC, along with syndicated projects, television and internet technology properties as Sutton passed the baton on to his son Pierre “Pepe” Sutton. A two-term NY NAACP president, Sutton also headed a group that purchased the Amsterdam News, the second largest black weekly newspaper in the country. And in 1981, he came to the rescue of the shuttered Apollo Theater.

President Barack Obama issued his condolences: “Percy Sutton was a true hero to African Americans in New York City and around the country. We will remember him for his service to the country as a Tuskegee Airman, to New York State as a state assemblyman, to New York City as Manhattan Borough President, and to the community of Harlem in leading the effort to revitalize the world renowned Apollo Theater. His life-long dedication to the fight for civil rights and his career as an entrepreneur and public servant made the rise of countless young African Americans possible. Michelle and I extend our deepest condolences to his family on this sad day.”

The last child in a family of 15 children, Percy Ellis Sutton was born in San Antonio, Texas to a father, Samuel Johnson Sutton, who was born into slavery, and a mother, Lillian, who both changed their lots in life through education. S.J. became the principal of a black high school and Lillian, a teacher. And the 12 surviving family members who became adults all went to college with the older ones lending support for the younger ones to succeed.

An early entrepreneur, the elder Sutton infused that spirit in his siblings, especially his youngest, Percy. Selling real estate, farming, running a mattress factory, funeral home and skating rink in addition to his principal duties, S.J. Sutton not only introduced the young Percy to commerce and enterprise but also to civil rights injustices—a calling that permeated his life.

A strong advocate of education, Percy was the product of three historically black institutions of higher learning–Prairie View A & M University in Texas, Tuskegee University in Alabama and Hampton University in Virginia—eventually entering Columbia law School on the GI bill, transferring to Brooklyn Law School so he could sandwich in work around his schedule, taking on the 4pm to midnight shift at the post office, followed by a subway train conductor shift until 8:30am, before reporting to law school at 9am.

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Opening law offices on 125th Street in Harlem, Sutton represented Malcolm X and was a strong advocate for civil rights. From that threshold he began a long career in politics, serving as a New York State Assemblyman and eventually President of the Manhattan Borough, becoming the highest-ranking black politician in the state. Even running for a Senate and Mayor seat himself, Sutton found greater impact in supporting other candidates like Rev. Jesse Jackson’s two presidential races.

One of those, David N. Dinkins, NYC’s first black mayor, said, “I stand on the shoulders of Percy Sutton.”

Another, current New York governor David Patterson, described Sutton as “… one of New York’s and this nation’s most influential African-American leaders – a man whom I am proud to have called a friend and mentor throughout my entire career.”

“It was Percy Sutton who talked me into running for office and who has continued to serve as one of my most valued advisors ever since,” added Paterson. “Percy was fiercely loyal, compassionate and a truly kind soul. He will be missed, but his legacy lives on through the next generations of African-Americans he inspired to pursue and fulfill their own dreams and ambitions.”

Rev. Al Sharpton, who recently visited him in the nursing home where the retired statesman resided, commented: “He personified the black experience of the 20th century. He started the century where blacks were victims. We ended as victors.”

Sutton is survived by his wife Leatrice Sutton and son Pierre “Pepe” Sutton from that marriage, who carries on his legacy as chairman of the board of the ICB Holdings, Inc, expanding the company’s reach and positioning it for the 21st century, and a daughter, Cheryl Lynn Sutton, from a second marriage.

Sonja Hamm Life Celebrated

Former morning host at Radio One gospel WPZE-FM (Praise 102.5) passed away on March 25 from colon and abdomen cancer according to her husband of 24 years Gary Hamm. The Durham, NC native started her 20 plus year radio career in Raleigh-Durham, where she hosted one of the top morning shows as well as a weekly program for the CBS and Fox affiliates. She also covered the Carolinas for BRE Magazine, before moving to Atlanta in 2004 to take over the new morning host spot on Praise. Replaced by the syndicated Yolanda Adams Show in 2007, Hamm moved to middays, eventually leaving the station last August.
Commented Praise PD Derek Harper: ““You don’t have a lot of jocks like her anymore. People felt her reach through the radio to embrace them.”
A member of Creflo Dollar’s World Changers Church International in College Park, Hamm will be returned to Creedmoor, NC for burial on Tuesday, March 31 at Christian Faith Center. Burthey Funeral Services is coordinating arrangements. WPZE promotions director, Cie Cie Wilson McGhee added that the station is also planning a memorial as well.  Condolences can be placed on her website at sonyahammlive.com.

Chicago Radio Personality Richard Pegue Funeral March 9

Legendary Chicago DJ, Richard Pegue, passed away March 3 from heart failure.
Known for playing “The Best Music of Your Life,” the phrase he coined for the name of his radio show, Pegue began spinning music at high school dances at the age of 11 after receiving a reel-to-reel from his grandmother. While attending Hirsch High School, he formed the doo-wop group, the Belvederes as well as a lifelong friendship with fellow broadcaster, Richard Steele.

Between 1961 and 1965, Pegue continued singing, but also ventured in songwriting, releasing the single, “I’m Not Ready to Settle Down,” which was performed by the Cheers.

In 1968, Pegue became the music director for WVON, joining the legendary air personalities at WVON known as the “Good Guys.”  After the station was sold in 1975, he worked at several radio stations in Chicago and Northwest Indiana, including WOPA, WJPC and WGCI.

Also a record producer, Pegue was considered an expert on old classics from the ’50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. His radio show, called The Best Music of Your Life, featured music from these periods, commonly known as “dusties.” One of his claims to fame was his annual Dusty Records Convention, which he held in Chicago for more than 20 years. In fact, Chicago named a street after him during his career for his contributions.

He also produced commercial jingles, including the memorable Moo & Oink spots during the time Tom Joyner was the spokesperson for the brand.

And he contributed a regular column on the vintage music he loved so much in the weekly newspaper, Chicago Citizen, under the byline of Dr. Richard Pegue. His last column appeared this week. Even though he had suffered a stroke in 1998, Pegue stayed active. In addition to his weekly column, he started this week spinning the hits at the Charles Adler Senior Center, bringing the house down at the WVON Seniors’ Breakfast and from midnight on Saturday until 6am Sunday morning playing his dusties on Kennedy King College’s WKKC (89.3) station that is run by Marv Dyson.

He is survived by his son, Chris Michaels, who currently is an evening air personality on WGCI.

Services are scheduled for Monday, March 9, at 11am at the Apostolic Church of God at 6320 South Dorchester Avenue in Chicago with interment following at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Messages can be left on his website: www.thebestmusicofyourlife.com

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