October is a significant month for the Saturday Morning Wake Up Club… because it is the month that the man who made this show what it is was born and passed away. On October 5th, we celebrated the birth of Herb Kent, the Cool Gent and this week on the 22nd, we marked his passing in 2016.
Herb was a radio legend… The Mayor of Bronzeville, National Radio Hall of Famer and Guiness record holder for the longest running radio personality. He paved the way in black radio, knew its history and saw and encouraged its future… he even gave us the word “dusties.” I’m proud to be able to his seat warm, because I could never replace him… I only want to do my part to keep his legacy alive.
And part of that legacy is the civic duty he was committed to and would encourage us all to do… VOTE. If he was here today, he would tell you what it was like to stand with Dr. King in Soldier Field for the Freedom Summer Rally… he would tell you what it felt like after Dr. King was assassinated… and he would tell you to get to the polls like your life depended on it. Because it did back then and it certainly does now. So, go on and get your vote on… it’s a very cool thing to do.
Sending love to his daughter Robbin and all his family, many friends and fans.