For the second straight year, WEVL has been voted "Best FM Station" in the Memphis Flyer Best of Memphis Readers' Poll. And our own Joyce Cobb came in second in the "Best Local Singer" category.

"Blues, rock, world, bluegrass, folk, R&B, electronica, jazz, swing, and country: You name the music, WEVL, the Mid-South's only listener-supported, independent radio station, plays it--and has for 32 years. WEVL's volunteer deejays know the score: What they air they program themselves. Hear the difference. Flyer readers do. So does singer-songwriter Alejandro Escovedo, who's playing a WEVL benefit at the Hi-Tone on October 27th."
-Memphis Flyer, 9/24/08

The news of Dee "Cap'n Pete" Henderson's untimely death on July 16 hit us hard. He was one of the patriarchs of WEVL, on the air for 26 years and beloved by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

A gentle, kind and humble man, his love of the blues and deep connection to the music endeared him to WEVL listeners everywhere. To say that we'll miss him is a monumental understatement.

His funeral Saturday at the Cathedral of God Holy Word Temple was a joyous celebration of our dear friend's life. Cap'n Pete's wishes were carried out: the blues were played at his funeral service and the procession drove down Beale Street after passing by WEVL.

Dee's friends Joyce Cobb, Di Anne Price, and Blind Mississippi Morris performed, along with the Temple choir.

Cap'n Pete's legacy will continue every Friday night 9-midnight (CST) as we bring you the Best of Cap'n Pete's Blues Cruise from the WEVL archives.

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Cap'n Pete Memorial Fund

Dee's family has established a memorial fund. Proceeds will be used to pay for funeral and memorial expenses above those covered by his pre-need agreement, including a plaque in his memory for the WEVL studio.

Contributions may be sent to:

Dee "Cap'n Pete" Henderson Memorial Fund
c/o City of Memphis Credit Union
1900 Whitten Rd, Suite 102
Memphis TN 38133�

Please see the WEVL website for more information. Be sure to share your memories in Cap'n Pete's guest book while you're there!



R.I.P. Dee Atlas "Cap'n Pete" Henderson ~ 1936-2008

WEVL Voted Best FM Station in Memphis Flyer's Best of Memphis 2007 Poll!

"When WEVL 89.9 calls itself 'listener supported,' they aren't kidding: they got enough support to take this year's top prize. WEVL's stable of excellent and diverse programs and volunteer hosts makes a great case, but Friday night's Cap'n Pete's Blues Cruise might have been enough to do the trick by itself."

-Memphis Flyer 10/3/07

Bashful Bob had always wanted to go backstage at the Opry, so he, along with the Ridge Runner, Brian and Judy did just that last weekend. The photos are all up on Myspace, so take a look!

We've also just started work on a 2006 Blues on the Bluff® album with some of the dozens of great photos that were taken. Mark your calendars for this year: July 28 and August 18. Click here for more info.

You must check out this great article by Bob Mehr about our Memphis Beat host Andrew McCalla in the Memphis daily paper!! And don't miss the show every Tuesday 1-2 pm central time!!!

Check out photos from the 12/28 volunteer appreciation party at Earnestine & Hazel's; more to come. Of course literally one second after 30th anniversary concert pics were all deleted to make room for these, Tom announced you can now have 300 photos instead of 10.

And a good time was had by all.

North Mississippi blueswoman Jessie Mae Hemphill died last Saturday, July 22. She was a great friend of the station and helped raise funds by performing both on air and at WEVL benefits from 1986-early '90s.

Jessie Mae was laid to rest this afternoon at Senatobia Memorial Cemetery in Senatobia, MS after a fine celebration service at Church of Christ in Senatobia. David Evans, Blind Mississippi Morris, Kenny Brown, Richard Johnston, and the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band performed at the service.

We will miss her, but as the funeral director said, we know that "Jessie Mae is shakin' that thing in Heaven right now."

(Photo by "Deep Blues Show" host Steve Auterman: Jessie Mae Hemphill, WEVL station manager Judy Dorsey, and "Blues Cruise" host Dee "Cap'n Pete" Henderson at 2005 Handy Awards show)

Thanks to everyone who pledged and helped us exceed our $62,000 goal in the Spring Pledge Drive!

Big thanks to "Mr. & Ms. Anonymous" for their $10,000 donation!

We really appreciate the musicians who played live in the studio: Brad Postlethwaite, Eef Barzelay from Clem Snide, William Lee Ellis, Klaudia & Rico, and Shooter Jennings.

Heartfelt thanks to the off-air volunteers who answered the phones and helped with all the paperwork: Rebeca-Ann Weinstock, Steffen Schreiner, Apryl Cox, Jerry Jennings, Jane Hankins, Amit Sen, Tiffany Jacobs, Bill Coker, Randy Meeks, Drew Kucsmas, Laura Wolf, Bobby Thompson, Debbie Elam, Linda Dale, Tim Ward, Mary Alice Taylor, Roger Miller, Meg Johnson, Kathy Fay, Richard Meek, Gail Early, Jim Martin, Kate Hackett, Tom Fox, Anya Bogle, Mike Chapman, Lucy Liles, Eunice McCollough, Billie Poss, Kenny Watson, Ansley Murphy, and John Anderson.

And many thanks to the fine restaurants and friends who fed us so well for 9 days: WEVL members Bobbie Dale Letson ("Mrs. Bashful Bob") and Kenny Bond; Alice's Urban Market, Arcade Restaurant, Camy's, Celtic Crossing, Central BBQ, Dino's Grille, Gus's Fried Chicken, Happy Mexican Restaurante & Cantina, Heavenly Hoagie, Kudzu's, Lulu Grille, McEwen's, Molly's La Casita, Precious Cargo, and the Spaghetti Warehouse.

And, finally, thanks to Jeremy Scott and Eddie Hankins for their invaluable help in the last few hours of the drive.

Click on "View more pics" to see some of Windy Mayes' photos from our 30th Anniversary Spring Concert at the Hi Tone March 4th. See more pics from that show at wevl.org. Scroll down the page to "30th Anniversary Spring Concert."