PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — "Rich folks live on Power Street, and Friendship is a one way street, but most of us live off Hope." The well-known mantra, which for decades has resonated with people living in Providence, can be found on the popular black-and-white poster created in 1978 that's still sold in stores throughout the city. It hangs in people's homes, apartments and dorm rooms. There's even a mural of it on Hope Street. John Peck, the artist behind the poster who signed his art as "The Mad Peck," died at the hospital on Saturday after a sudden illness, according to his friend. He was 83. John Peck, the Providence-based artist known as "The Mad Peck," died at the age of 83 after a sudden illness. (Courtesy Robert Yeremian) Jeff Heiser, who helped Peck run a popular record-collecting show for decades, told 12 News he's still processing the loss of his good friend. "I learned a lot from him," Heiser said. "The record convention -- who would have thought we'd be doing this forty years later." Heiser met Peck in Providence in 1978, the same year he created the famous poster that starts with the line, "Providence, Rhode Island where it rains two days out of three except during the rainy season when it snows like a [expletive]." At the time, Peck was a well-known disc jockey by the name of "Dr. Oldie" on Brown University's popular radio station WBRU. Shortly thereafter, the pair started co-hosting "The Giant Jukebox" radio show together until it ended in 1983. "Being on the radio, it was a thrill," Heiser said of their time together. "It was an oldies show that you take for granted now," Heiser said. "But unlike your standard oldies show that would just stick to the hits, we would take requests that people wanted to hear. Rare obscure stuff that other people didn't play." The radio show and record convention were just one of Peck's many contributions to modern art and culture that extended beyond Rhode Island. RELATED: NPR interview with Mad Peck: From Cartoonist to Record Collector to Television Critic After graduating Brown University, Peck rose to fame in the 1960s and 1970s making concert posters for famous acts like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Cream. His Cream poster is perhaps the most famous, still seen selling on the auction block to rare poster collectors. Peck was also an avid cartoonist and part of an underground comic book collective that gained a national cult following, and was billed among the likes of Robert Crumb and Harvey Pekar. "He had the vision and the foresight," Heiser said. In 1987, Doubleday & Company published an anthology of Peck's work. Heiser said that Peck still sold copies of the book and reprints of his beloved Providence poster at his record shows. "It's been in dorm rooms everywhere," Heiser said. "And that's been a big seller for him over the years." Heiser described Peck as a collector of all things and very generous to his friends -- giving many opportunities they won't forget. "I would give him credit for the oldest record collector's convention in New England," Heiser said. "And he was on the ground floor for that." The Original Southern New England Rock n' Roll Collector's Convention will be held this Sunday at the Ramada Inn in Seekonk. Peck's family plans to hold a memorial service celebrating his life in the near future. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media:                     Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW ...read more read less