A two-time Emmy Award-winner, Greene overcame drug addiction and a prison sentence for armed robbery to become one of the most prominent media personalities in Washington, D.C. On his shows, Greene often discussed issues such as racism, poverty, drug usage, and current events among others.

[2] In January 1960, Greene was convicted of armed robbery in Washington and sentenced to ten years imprisonment at Lorton Reformatory in Fairfax County, Virginia.

[4] This act, combined with his generally good behavior, earned him a reduction in his prison sentence and parole the following week.

In the summer of 1966, Greene was hired by Dewey Hughes to work as a disc jockey at AM radio station WOL/1450 and to host his own show.

His prominence grew, and soon he was hosting his own television show, Petey Greene's Washington, with a six-year run from 1976 to 1982 on WDCA/20.

The two shared a mutual admiration, as they both dealt with such controversial subjects as race and politics, with Stern since recognizing him as an influence.

[10] He was survived by his wife, Judy C. Greene, and their four children: Ralph Waldo III (affectionately known to family as Pine), Petra, Renee, and Melanie.