Herb Kent is an urban radio pioneer. He is a voice of the community, a father, a friend, and a living history lesson. To many Chicagoans, Herbert Rogers Kent, the Cool Gent, The King of the Dusties and The Honorary Mayor of Bronzeville stands for all these things and more. As one of the most important figures in Chicago radio history, Herb Kent has not only been able to entertain and inform listeners on his weekly radio show, he has also opened up many doors for African Americans. Simply put, Herb Kent is a Chicago treasure and a bankable commodity.
Growing up on the South Side of Chicago in the Ida B. Wells housing community, a young Herb Kent displayed an early interest in radio when as a teenager; he built radio equipment, including his own set of microphones, from surplus World War II parts. Kent's strong desire to learn as much as he could about the radio industry was eventually realized at the age of 16 when he was accepted into the highly competitive WBEZ Radio Workshops. From his early start at WBEZ, Kent went on to join a local community theater group known as the Skyloft Players. Young and eager to learn, Herb performed on stage and soon realized that many of the skills required to be a successful stage actor applied to radio as well. Kent’s early theatrical training would later help develop such popular radio characters as, "The Wahoo Man," "Gym Shoe Creeper," and "The Electric Crazy People." "I brought theater of the mind to radio," says Kent.
In 1949, Kent received his first paid radio job at WGRY in Gary, Indiana for $35 dollars a week. WGRY at that time had only two radio personalities. With Herb being one of two DJs, he was able to learn every aspect of putting a radio show together from producing, writing, and interviewing, to polishing his own on-air presence on twelve-hour shifts, seven days a week.
Back in the fifties, Herb Kent’s first fan club was formed and the nickname, Cool Gent was born. Around that same time Herb coined the term, "dusty records" to describe old-time favorite hits. "The dust in the grooves makes them crackle," said Kent.
Throughout his radio career working at stations like, WVON and WJJD, Herb Kent has interviewed many of today’s music legends including, DukeEllington, Smokey Robinson, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, and Marvin Gaye just to name a few. Kent even gave career advice to a young man with his own dreams for success in the entertainment industry, Soul Train creator Don Cornelius.In addition to his accomplishments as a radio personality, Kent has been an active community and civil rights leader. He has spent many years serving as a role model to the African American community by encouraging young people. "Stay in school and avoid gang involvement, that was my theme, " stated Kent.
In the 1960’s, during the height of the civil rights movement, Herb hosted a program with Stevie Wonder, for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s last visit to Chicago. Ironically, it was also Kent who after the assassination of Dr. King, took to the airwaves to calm rioters on Chicago’s West Side in the late 60s. For his many years of service and dedication to the community, the City of Chicago has bestowed numerous honors upon Kent, among them, a street named in his honor, "Herb Kent Drive" and Honorary Mayor of Bronzeville.
In 1995, he was inducted into the Museum of Broadcasting’s, Radio Hall of Fame.In the late 90’s Kent ventured into local television as the host of the popular dance show called, "Steppin’ At Club Seven", later to be renamed "The New Dance Club."
Today, despite a very busy and sometimes hectic broadcast schedule hosting two highly rated shows on WVAZ FM, Herb shows no sign of slowing down. Kent is a contributing writer for N’DIGO Magazine, and lectures to communication students at Chicago State University.
So what’s new for the millennium? Learning digital music formats, new computer skills, and taking the world of Herb Kent on the internet with the creation of his own new web site in the near future, just to name a few. Looking back over his incredible life and broadcast career, Kent says, "Radio has sustained me, and has really brought me through some hard times. It has been a rock for me; it’s the love of my life."
THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY IS CELEBRATING DURING AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH WITH A CELEBRITY PANEL DISCUSSION
THE PANELIST INCLUDES V103'S OWN HERB KENT, CARL DAVIS ALONG WITH GENE CHANDLER, MARSHALL THOMPSON, GREGG PARKER, GUS REDMOND, LEONARD FOURTE AND MAURICE WHITE...CLARENCE WALDRON WILL MODERATE THE DISCUSSION
THIS FREE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH 2012, AT THE CARTER G. WOODSON REGIONAL LIBRARY, 9525 S. HALSTED STREET...FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE AT chicagopubliclibrary.org OR CALL THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY PRESS OFFICE AT (312) 747-4050
WOMAN STAYS IN CRASHED RENTAL CAR FOR ONE WEEK: A 61-year-old Texas woman said she stayed in her crashed rental car for an entire week because she was told to remain in the vehicle if she got stranded. Lynn Keesler said she was looking for a hotel in Burley, Idaho when her car got stuck in the mud at the edge of a pond. Instead of getting out of the car and going for help, she flashed her headlights until the battery died. Keesler spent seven days in the car, surviving on peanut butter M&Ms and bottled water. She was forced to evacuate the car when the pond's water started to rise. Keesler refused a trip to the hospital, asking only for a "warm bed and a bath." (Daily Mail)
MOTHER OF FOUR 'TOO OLD TO WEAR SKIMPY OUTFITS': A 28-year-old woman in Worcester, England said she has been banned from all three nightclubs in her town because she is "too old to wear skimpy outfits." Lisa Woodman said she only gets a chance to go out once every few weeks and that normally she hits a bar with her 32-year-old sister Sarah before they go dancing at one of the nearby clubs. But the last few times she tried to go out, Woodman says she's been turned down. Her sister said that they're "always polite" to the bouncers but always get the same response -- "You ain't getting in tonight girls." Lisa said the last time she was turned down was New Year's Eve, when a bouncer told her, "You're too old to wear that get-up." The mother-of-four said, "I just want to be treated with a bit of respect." Dean Hill, a director at one of the nightclubs said they have a "responsible door policy" and a dress code of "smart casual." Hill continued, "At the end of the day, it's private premises and we reserve the right to refuse entry for anyone." (Daily Mail)
CAT SHOT WITH ARROW: A 2-year-old stray cat in Houston, Texas survived for three days after being shot with an arrow that pierced the animal from one shoulder to the other. Despite the cat's best efforts at avoiding neighborhood residents, a rescue group was able to catch it and take it to the Brittmore Animal Hospital. The cat received x-rays before Dr. Amanda Taylor removed the arrow. She said, "This definitely wasn't an accident. An orange cat doesn't look like something you hunt for. Luckily, this kitty is a tough one and came out OK." Cupid is expected to make a full recovery. (Huffington Post)
Sittin' by the open fire place In my favorite dungarees Played a few bars of a melody And it sounded sweet to me
I thought I'd get up and take a look around But my feet got in the way Stumbled to the floor, she was right in the door I could see her face
But how could it be She ran away from me My best friend's gone I'm so all alone
I kinda miss you, Brandy I'm so all alone When are you comin' back home I really miss you, Brandy Missin' you every day Are you comin' home to stay
Cause I love you, Brandy Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah
Sipping on a cherry soda pop Building houses made of sand Like a little child with a fantasy Just a fraction of a man
But I was in love when they put her down On my doorstep in the rain I could feel the love comin' to my heart Through my window pane
But how could I know She would just up and go My best friend gone I'm so all alone
I really miss you, Brandy I'm so all alone When are you comin' back home I really miss you, Brandy Missin' you every day Are you comin' home to stay
I kinda miss you, Brandy When are you comin' back home I'm so all alone I really miss you, Brandy Missin' you every day Are you comin' home to stay
Oh, I really miss you, Brandy I'm so all alone When are you comin' back home Oh, I really miss you, Brandy Missin' you every day Are you comin' home to stay
I really miss you, oh, Brandy When are you comin' back home I'm so all alone I really miss you
© 2012
