Radio Legend Herb Kent Holds Record for Longest Radio Career in History

Radio Legend Herb Kent Holds Record for Longest Radio Career in History
Radio Legend Herb Kent Holds Record for Longest Radio Career in History

Radio Legend Herb Kent Holds Record for Longest Radio Career in History

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At 5, he knew he wanted to be on the radio. At 16, he learned the basics through a program run by—would you believe it—WBEZ. At 19, he kicked off a hall-of-fame career that has lasted over 60 years. Not bad for a guy who was told by his professor, “you’ll never make it in radio because you’re a Negro.” He is Herb Kent, known as “The Cool Gent”, “Herbie Baby” and the “Mayor of Bronzeville”. And this weekend, he’ll be inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records for having the longest career in radio history—65 to be exact. We re-visit his conversation earlier this year with Richard Steele. They talked upon the release of his autobiography The Cool Gent: The Nine Lives of Radio Legend Herb Kent.