Call It How It’s Seen — Like Petey Greene.
The 1st Daring & Definitive Voice Of D.C.
Before Donnie Simpson began his primal run of captivating the city’s airwaves, or even before Chuck Brown (notably a close friend) transcended THE signature sound, there was the late great Ralph Waldo “Petey” Greene Jr. The radical yet reasonable man was nothing short of brutally honest each and everytime he spoke into a microphone. From the early 1960s to early 80s prior to his passing, Greene ascended as an awarding-winning media personality who wasn’t afraid to say what needed to be said. While some people would be turned off by his demeanor, it was that much more necessary for him to convey his dialogue during a very sensitive socially conscious time — especially given where he was from.
Prior to this current digital era of being heard via podcasts, social media and such, what would essentially serve as the prologue era before mass media in DC came into for there was ‘Petey Greene’s Washington’ Whether he was on Television or Radio, his critically acclaimed gift to verbally grab your attention and make even the smartest person question their intellect was undeniably compelling.
The Man Before ‘The Mouth’
Born and raised a DC resident to Ralph Waldo Greene Sr. and Jacqueline Abernathy Greene. He attended Stevens Elementary and Cardozo High School. He dropped out his freshman year and served in the army from years 1947 to 1953. Greene spent the majority of his childhood raised by his grandmother “A’nt Pig”; whom he devoted his mere existence (and forthcoming success) to. Hoping he’d apply the survival lessons she’d instill in him early; Petey actually had his very first brush in with the law at 9 years old. He was arrested for setting a tree on fire that started out as a dare. That path would precede, with him being an alcoholic, drug addict and convicted felon who was sentenced to 10 years for armed robbery at the Lorton Reformatory in 1960. During that time spent, Petey began his early “practice” years of broadcasting by gaining the respect and attention of prisoners and guards alike when he became the prison’s disc jockey (ironically enough, it was where he and Chuck Brown first met) Now, how he managed to only do 6 out of those 10 just speaks volumes to his charismatic ways. Petey convinced a fellow inmate to fake his suicide attempt by climbing a water tower so that he would save him. Petey did exactly that, and this literal act of courage rewarded him with reduced time and parole the next week. Later in life, Greene would sum up the telling of this story by saying, “It took me all of 18 minutes to get him to come down but it took 6 months to get him to go up there”
Petey Greene was now a free man back on the scene with a gangster lean but he was determined to upkeep his legitimacy / *now* loquacious personality and getting a job by doing so. During Greene’s incarceration he had a cell mate by the name of Milo Hughes. Milo happened to have a brother named Dewey Hughes, who coincidentally worked in Radio for WOL-AM (we’ll get to the importance of this station later) Milo played the middle man to bridge Dewey and Petey together that would soon be the metaphoric tip-off to their 4 quartered relationship.
2 Minds, 1 Microphone.
Getting Greene on-air was no cake walk. Initially, even Dewey himself didn’t want to have anything to do with Petey due to his former life. After hearing his name fly around in the streets, Hughes’ curiosity eventually had him checking out his act as ‘Petey Greene: The Talking Machine’ in local clubs and seeing his interaction with audiences first hand. As Public Affairs Director, this swayed Hughes into eventually taking a chance with Petey and giving him his own show and morning slot titled ‘Rapping With Petey Greene’ debuting in 1967. He was a man of the people, and understanding/knowing the community from which they came. The more Petey was comfortable and did his thing, the more he gained support of that from WOL. You couldn’t have had a perfect mesh from a professional personality like Petey, the people of broadcasting and the inner city both in his corner. From this particular point on, the praise and garnishment of listeners would only be the beginning. With Dewey as the visionary/brains and Petey as the voice of reason/hilarity, the pair would continue on to prosper in media so much that Petey was now crowned as the district’s ‘Shock Jock’
Community Liaison and Award Winner.
During his establishing radio run, Petey made good on his responsibility as the man of the people. He complimented and lended an extended hand out for a lot of figures at the time who we know now as living legends in their rights/crafts; Sports Broadcaster James Brown and Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard just to name a few. What served as probably Petey’s most defining/serious moment to handle as a Shock Jock was April 4, 1968 — The Assassination Of Martin Luther King Jr. Being the voice to deliver such news was of course hard on anyone nationwide, but both Dewey and Petey handled their duty at work as humanly/professional as possible. Being on the air for hours as riots all through 14th st. began and proceeded to get severe, Petey pleaded for nothing but peace, understanding, and prosperity, “I don’t know why we hate each other, we find it so easy to hate when it’s really hard…but as long as you’re hating you are tearing yourself down mentally and financially.”
That sentiment alone served as somewhat of a verbal band-aid within the area but would also embody what needed to be said for the forthcoming decade. Petey wasn’t just using his voice for restoration though, He also was very active in the city as far as philanthropy goes. Having a ‘PhD in poverty’ as he always put it, Greene became the principal founder of The Ralph Waldo Greene Community Center and (EFEC) Efforts for Ex-Convicts. These organizations took pride in lending helping hands to those who were striving for a life of legitimacy as well as prison reform advocacy. Never impressed with politics or the figures it generated, and critical of the Mayor at the time Marion Barry, Greene took it upon himself to join the United Planning Organization to support and present opportunities to D.C.’s low income residents. That genuine humility would only further the narrative of Petey’s community compassion and understanding.
On the media end of things, Petey and Dewey’s production formula would only continue to brew when in 1976 ‘Petey Greene’s Washington’ premiered on WDCA Channel 20. Continuing his Shock Jock value, Petey was usually a one man talk show progressing his views, jewels and all around life lessons. He occasionally shared the spotlight and introduced guests with various open panel discussions. One episode in particular that caught a extremely high wind of shock was when he invited a fellow local rising personality; the young & controversial Howard Stern. Stern appeared on set in black face cracking stereotypical jokes back and forth, with Petey shooting them right back. Petey put Howard right in his place with Stern’s black Program Producer in attendance. His intentions were essentially to show that there was also emphatic dialogue and a unified message to get across in doing so.
The show was locally syndicated & frequently recorded in front of a studio audience. In fact, it garnished up enough recognition for Petey to win not only 1; but 2 Emmy awards for the program. That pretty much served as his seal to an early conquer of television which allowed the show to run for 6 years (‘76-‘82.) Those final 2 years opened the door for the opportunity to have PGW syndicated on the newly founded network; Black Entertainment Television otherwise known to us now (of course lol) as BET. A man of many mottos and mantras, Petey proudly showed and told just exactly who he was, where came he from, and what he wanted you to know all in one expressive thought.
A Lasting Legacy,
An Innovator of Attitude.
To sum it all up, Petey Greene planted and manifested plenty of seeds during his primal run of position. A homegrown star was born and embraced into welcome which all begin from a man and his boisterous beginnings behind a microphone. Certainly way ahead of his time, Petey Greene sadly passed away in 1984 from Liver Cancer at the age of 53. As some would best describe it was the case of older habits and vices catching up to his body. This was of course unfortunate across all boards of his life, but essentially because this was simply a man who paid his dues, gave back & turned his life around full circle.
There’s an age old saying that goes, “you only live twice” and Petey did just that with his second chance at life. Years before his passing, (1979 to be exact) he had actually kicked his drinking habit. In 1981, he’d gotten baptized by Bishop Walter of the House of Prayer, and even hosted several gospel-based radio shows. He was indeed a celebrity in his own right, and arguably one of D.C’s first. Petey was that much of a respected public figure for his craft and community work, which led to him being granted certain honors only a distinguished individual like himself could have. In 1982, he was given the pleasure (by way of students voting) to give the commencement speech at Walter Whitman’s High School graduation ceremony. Once a high school dropout, now an established Media Personality speaking to a graduating class — imagine that. In his true articulate yet ignorant cadence Petey modestly opened with, “I know you’re nervous ‘cause you don’t know what I’m gonna say and I’m nervous ‘cause I’ve never spoke in front of this many white people before” Another privilege Petey was granted was in 1978 when he was invited to the White House. He was there to honor a foreign President but in true fashion left in bit of controversy. He stole a spoon in which the media of course made a huge deal. It was undoubtedly talked about amongst his peers all while Petey’s intentions were just to show and tell to his grandmother. Petey absolutely enjoyed basking in the benefits of his successes. The lifestyle of dressing in 3-piece suits, driving Cadillacs, and draped in diamonds/gold were all right up the alley of Petey’s self-assuring attitude that had earned him those things. With all the vanity that came along with his new-found materialism, there was just as much morality which again spoke volumes to he was. In an interview with the Washington Post he went on record as saying, “I got a Cadillac because I want them to understand you don’t have to be no dope dealer to have a car..” It’s evident from his beginnings, Petey clearly wasn’t supposed to be where the latter half of his life took him (if you let statistics tell it) but he beat those odds and made his stamp.
Although, Petey Greene wasn’t alive to see where his legacy would not only take the community but the world of media in D.C, he’s one of the early architects that laid the groundwork of a cultural standard. His chapter transcended the exact station he began at, WOL-AM. When Dewey and his then wife Cathy Hughes bought the network, she would later use that as a pillar to create Urban One (formerly Radio One) and it’s Television branch; TV One.
So as you now know, thanks to his voice and hand, the legendary (and to some maybe even unsung) Petey Greene helped uplift his city that we love well within the avenues he touched. , the wordsmith would always sign off with these lasting words, “I’ll tell it to the hot, I’ll tell it to the cold, I’ll tell it to the young, I’ll tell it to the old, I don’t want no laughin’, I don’t wan’t no cryin’, and most of all, no signifyin’. This is Petey Greene’s Washington.” — that it was, that it always will be.
*Post-Life Productions
- Petey Greene’s life got a Silver Screen adaptation when Don Cheadle starred as lead in 2007’s ‘Talk To Me’ and like some Biopics was the subject of controversy/denied film deceptions from his family.
- Produced by PBS, ‘Adjust Your Color: The Truth Of Petey Greene’ was released 2008 and was also narrated by Don Cheadle. The Documentary can be viewed to this day here.
