Thoughts and Memories of Cap'n Pete

The Memphis Flyer "Best of Memphis" ballot came out today. In past years I've always listed Mr. Dee "Cap'n Pete" Henderson as my vote for "Best Radio Personality." He never won--hard to compete with those well-funded commercial radio guys--but I'll be voting for him again this year to get the award posthumously.
07/30/2008 06:22 PM - Elmore Holmes

what can I say other than my friday nights listening to Cap'n Pete were w/out doubt some of the hi-lights from my time in Memphis and my soul truly does hurt for his family and our "family"...those who have never heard the Cap'n or WEVL for that matter don't know what a jewel the Bluff-city has lost....if Memphis has ever had any culture at all they lost a ton of it w/ Dee Henderson's passing. I learned most of my Blues knowledge from him. I've been away from Memphis for 6 yrs. now and boy do I miss comin home from work and gettin ready for the Blues-Cruise...well, things change... we move away,babies are born , people pass on and in between are the moments that define us. My friend Karl mentioned becoming a "subscriber" in referance to one of the pledge drives when Cap'n Pete said we could donate a some of money and "become a year subscriber"...well, I became a "subscriber" in more ways than one long before that, but that instance is part an parcel of the charm of the Cap'n. Bless you brother
07/30/2008 04:06 PM - Cris Rucker

Cap'n Pete was our library, our authenic Smithsonian Institute for the blues. When you heard his presentation, the broken verbs, his lost for words, and the tales of blues legends that he had either heard or read abut, you knew that you were listening to somebody who had been there and done that whatever the blues greats were singing and hollering about. I remember that I couldn't wait to heard what he was going to play next or when he played a succession of songs: the list of the artists and song titles was always a learning experience. You knew you were listening to someone who lived and loved the blues. He will be missed.
07/29/2008 09:07 PM - El Espada

Goodbye Pete my friend. Please find a good fishing place in Heaven where the Crappy are biteing. I'll be there soon.
Bashful Bob
07/29/2008 11:23 AM - Bob Letson

Capt'n Peete's death is such an irrational event that it is impossible to 'place' it within one's view of one's community. Therefore I found comfort in this poem by Rosamund Pilcher titled "September". Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way you always used. Put no distance in your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well. Well, Capt'n Peete, hard as it is, you may be out of my sight but you'll never be out of my heart.
07/28/2008 02:05 PM - Steffen, Conductor, 'Night Train'

I listened to Cap'n Pete for years.His knowledge of the blues was vast,and he always had interesting stories to share about the music and its artist.We have lost a great one and he is missed.
07/28/2008 08:37 AM - G. Boyland

Cap'n Pete will be truly missed. We have learned more from him about the music we love than from any other source. The Friday nights we spent listing to him are treasured and will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are his family and the WEVL family.
07/27/2008 11:05 AM - Cathy & Mark Caldwell

The best blues show guy the world. His show inspired me to keep going when I felt bad.
07/27/2008 10:18 AM - Lorelei Berglund

A few years ago, Dee was admitted to Baptist Hospital (I don't recall why) and was in an ICU room with 'family only' visitor status. I happened to be working in that area of the hospital and knew he was there and decided to go visit anyway. He was quite weak, but held my hand for a few moments, not talking at all. His nurse, a very conscientious and skilled young woman, came in. She knew darn well I had not been consulted on his case, and reminded me that it was 'family only' visitation. Dee looked up at her and whispered "That my doctor baby son". She looked at him with a "yeah, right" expression, and an annoyed grin to me asking me to leave soon or she might get in trouble. For a long time after that, whenever i saw Dee he would remind me of that visit and ask: "Do you think we fooled her?". Not sure, Dee.
07/27/2008 09:22 AM - Edward Amos

I have lot's of love and gratitude for the Friday Night lesson I received from Mr.Dee.I became a "subscriber" because of those historical moments of time when he did his remembering.We have lost another shooting star.I will miss him and his joy.I love him and you.
07/25/2008 09:57 PM - Karl Ameil Harris