Herb Kent 'The Cool Gent'
Linda Zabors
Herb Kent
longest playing DJ in radio broadcasting history
Honorary Herb Kent 'The Cool Gent' Way
I'm so cool, I'm froze in my clothes
For more than 70 years Herb Kent 'The Cool Gent' was a radio personality and broadcasting legend; playing music on the radio was his life. Most recently he was a DJ on Chicago's V103 radio where he played until the very end of his life at age 88. Herb was known for his "Battle of the Best" segments and interviews.
He was very proud of the years he spent at WVON radio which continues to play a crucial role as the voice of the African-American community. He has been featured several times in the Chicago Defender.
Herb Kent 'The Cool Gent' was inducted into National Radio Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2016. He taught broadcasting at Chicago State University and he mentored several of the big names in black music entertainment including: Curtis Mayfield, Smokey Robinson, and Don Cornelius of Soul Train fame.
OCTOBER 29, 2016 IS HERB KENT DAY IN CHICAGO
In 2009 he published his autobiography, "The Cool Gent: The Nine Lives of Radio Legend Herb Kent." He was born at Cook County Hospital, raised in Bronzeville in the Ida B. Wells housing projects, and attended Hyde Park High School.
Herb was the originator of the term "Dusty oldies" or "Dusties" when referring to hit music of days passed. He had several monikers including: one of the "Good Guys" on WVON radio AM 1690, and of course his classic line "I'm so cool, I'm froze in my clothes."
Condolences message from President Barak Obama.