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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN MEMORY OF HERBERT ‘HERB’ ROGERS KENT
WHEREAS, on Saturday, October 22, 2016, after finishing his morning broadcast, Chicago radio legend Herbert ‘Herb’ Rogers Kent died at the age of 88; and
WHEREAS, Herb Kent, who was born at Cook County Hospital on October 5th, 1928, was known by many nicknames, including: “The Mayor of Bronzeville,” “The King of the Dusties,” “Herbie Baby” and, most notably, the “The Cool Gent;” and
WHEREAS, Herb Kent got his start in radio while a student at Hyde Park High School at the age of sixteen (16) when he was accepted into the WBEZ Radio Workshops; and
WHEREAS, Herb Kent worked as a DJ at eleven (11) different radio stations during his seventy-two (72) year career including: his first paid on-air job at WGRY in Gary, IN, in 1949; Chicago’s largest African-American radio station, WGES, through the 1950s; WBEE, where he coined the phrase “dusty records” or “dusties;” WJOB in Hammond; WHFC in Chicago; WJJD; WGCI; and WVAZ (V103) where he was on-air the day of his passing; and
WHEREAS, Herb Kent was one of the original DJs at WVON-AM , and was a member of the station’s “The Good Guys” roster of DJs along with Franklin McCarthy, E. Rodney Jones, Wesley South and Pervis Span; and
WHEREAS, Herb Kent is credited with launching the careers of legendary artists and personalities including: The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Curtis Mayfield, Minnie Riperton and “Soul Train” host Don Cornelius; and
WHEREAS, Herb Kent used his experiences as a stage and radio actor to create characters like “The Whaoo Man,” “The Gym Shoe Creeper,” and “The Electric Crazy People” that have entertained multiple generations; and
WHEREAS, Herb Kent briefly expanded his talents to television with a dance show on ABC7 called “Steppin’ at Club 7”; and
WHEREAS, Herb Kent developed young talent by teaching radio at Chicago State University; and
WHEREAS, Herb Kent holds the Guinness World Record for longest on-air career for a DJ; and
WHEREAS, Herb Kent was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1995.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of Cook County, do extend their deepest condolences and most heartfelt sympathy to the family, friends and fans of Herb Kent; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be tendered to the loved ones of Herb Kent as a means of communicating our deep respect and reverence for his extraordinary life and career.
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