WVON 1450 Chicago - Herb Kent - January 30 1965 - Radio Aircheck

WVON 1450 Chicago - Herb Kent - January 30 1965 - Radio Aircheck
Known as the Cool Gent, the King of the Dusties, and the Mayor of Bronzeville, Herb Kent is one of radio’s most illustrious and legendary stars, having spent 72 years on the radio!
Herb Kent was a high school student on Chicago’s South Side when he began his radio career hosting a classical music program for WBEZ/Chicago. In the late 1940s, Kent divided his time between playing records at WGRY/Gary and acting in radio dramas for Chicago’s NBC affiliate, WMAQ.
In 1952, Kent left WMAQ for WGES, Chicago’s largest black-oriented station. Here he worked with and learned from African-American radio pioneers Sam Evans and Al Benson. From 1955 to 1960, Kent was heard on WBEE/Chicago, where he developed a show devoted to a format he called “dusty records.”
Ken worked at WJOB/Hammond and WHFC/Chicago until 1962, when he joined WVON/Chicago. During his eight years at WVON, Kent established a huge following in the city’s growing African-American community. He was an active participant in the Civil Rights movement and devoted 15 minutes of every show to his “Stay in the Schools” campaign.
Feel free to check out some of the many other videos on the Ellis B Feaster's Radio Channel! Established in 2008!
One of You Tube's oldest RADIO AIRCHECK MUSEUM with a NEW VIDEO posted daily at 3PM EST.
After over 40 years working on the radio, I have recorded lots of radio airchecks, and many from my friends as well.
You'll find audio of many radio personalities who have passed away. Lots radio recordings from the 1940s, through the 2010.
We also talk about radio broadcasting. If you happen to have classic airchecks, maybe even of yourself on the air, we'd love to share it here!

[@robbchastain3036]

Thanks for another visit with Herb Kent, the Cool Gent, Ellis, and I really like that pic of him with the ladies in the backseat of that big convertible, sort of like the Chess artists all driving Cadillacs. And this newscast, wow, talk about comprehensive, seems a little intense for a music station but I can't really say, I was a five-year-old in a trailer park in California In January '65, lol. And I love your intros, Ellis, you sound like my all-time favorite, the late Dr. Don Rose of KFRC.

[@EllisFeaster]

@@robbchastain3036 Glad you enjoyed it!

[@GT-bz9nc]

What a legend - Herb Kent. Thanks for bringing us this air check.

[@po2313]

You are awesome sir! Please keep up the great work you are doing. I subscribed a while ago and you more than deserve all of your followers.

[@Jeremy-iy1zd]

Sir this is awesome as always. Keep it coming, please

[@ericlarson7556]

Seconded. We are fortunate to have you share these legendary radio personalities with us Ellis.

[@Tomovox_PAMS_Radio_JIngles]

Oh I love this one! Thank you for this! Listening to any WVON 1960s aircheck is an almost surreal experience to me. There is a sort of middle-of-the-night, 3 am vibe to some of the airchecks - probably because there aren't the usual whizzers, bells, whistles and firecrackers heard on many Top 40 stations. Herb Kent really had such a unique style: very urbane, ice cool and going at the pace HE wishes. He makes you believe he is having an intimate conversation with only you - and maybe just a handful of the coolest cats in Chicago. If I had no knowledge of Mr. Kent, you could place his between-songs patter between Jazz records and I would have no problem buying into the belief that he was a DJ at a Jazz station.

[@EllisFeaster]

@@Tomovox_PAMS_Radio_JIngles I have always enjoyed Herb on the air. I was lucky enough to be listening to him the day he passed away at age 88!

[@pookie4660]

Herb Kent also went by the handle herb Kent the immaculate gent