Longtime Living Blues contributor Peter R. Aschoff died at his home on February 15, after suffering a heart attack. He was only 52. Peter was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on December 24, 1949, but grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He first became interested in the blues while attending Lawrence University in Wisconsin, where he inherited a blues radio show from future Alligator Records owner and Living Blues cofounder Bruce Iglauer. During the 1970s Peter worked as a master carpenter and lived a hippie lifestyle raising chickens on a farm in Randalia, Iowa, all the while hosting the public radio show Only Blues. 
In the late ’70s he returned to college at the University of Northern Iowa and met his future wife, Patricia. In 1983—the year Living Blues was acquired by the University of Mississippi— they moved to Oxford, where Peter completed a master’s degree in anthropology, began regularly contributing to Living Blues, and relished living in the “the heart of the beast.” He left Oxford for several years to work toward a Ph.D. in anthropology at the University of Iowa and, after returning, worked as an instructor in anthropology at the University of Mississippi, where his courses, including Anthropology of the Blues, were popular with undergraduates. He was also a regular presenter at the annual Delta Blues Symposium at Arkansas State University, which paid tribute to him at this year’s gathering.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia; his son, Edward; his brother, Michael; sisters, JoEllen and Gretchen; and parents, Dr. Carl and Jacqueline Aschoff. The family has suggested that contributions in his memory be made to Friends of Living Blues, c/o the University of Mississippi Foundation, P.O. Box 249, University, MS 38677. Secure online gift-giving can be made by clicking www.umf.olemiss.edu and, in Account Designation, marking “Living Blues.”
Gifts to Living Blues are tax deductible.
Scott Barretta

Peter Aschoff was one of those rare men who wore his gentleness like a badge. He was passionate about everything he did in life, and he wasn’t afraid to show his emotions. I think that one reason he loved the blues so much was that he knew that the secret power of the blues, a music that so often expresses anger and frustration, is that it allows you to vent your personal anger and frustration, and, if you’re not too “cool” let your gentleness shine through. In his case, the gentleness shined brightly.
The Peter Aschoff I remember is not the charismatic, intensely enthusiastic, larger-than-life teacher, blues scholar, and writer that many of you knew. The Peter I remember is a skinny college freshman, curious about everything, funny, likeable, and a bit shy. We met during my senior year of college. I don’t remember how, but it was probably because I did the blues show on WLFM, the Lawrence University station. Blues fans were few and far between in those days, and our new friendship was based in our passion for the music which we actually knew very little about.
In the fall of 1969, I arranged to bring Luther Allison up to our college in Appleton, Wisconsin, for a concert. Peter was my right-hand man; I held the posters up while he wielded the staple gun. We canvassed a hundred mile radius promoting that show, riding in my old Rambler, stapling handbills and posters to every bulletin board, phone poll, and bar wall we could find. The show sold out, and Luther’s charismatic performance was better than even our wildest dreams. It was a triumph for both of us, and sealed us both to our future professions and our lives in the blues.
Peter inherited my radio show, and then took it to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he continued to study blues. One of his listeners became his beloved, wonderful wife, Patricia. Together they made their way to the University of Mississippi, so Peter could live and teach in the homeland of the blues. When they were blessed with their son Edward, they honored me by making me his godfather. 
I’m immensely proud that Peter saw me as his mentor, and that I was among the first to share with him the music that became a beacon in his life. He had a special gift—he could excite and energize people about the blues. If I helped make him into a lifelong blues fan, it was his gift that created so many more lifelong blues lovers. The world—not just the blues—needs more men like Peter Aschoff.

Bruce Iglauer