The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Herb Kent


Overview of the Item
	Repository:	The HistoryMakers
		1900 S. Michigan Avenue
		Chicago, Illinois 60616
		(312) 674-1900
		info@thehistorymakers.com
		http://www.thehistorymakers.com
	Interviewer:	Julieanna Richardson
	Videographer:
	Title:	Video Oral History Interview with Herb Kent
	Dates:	February 15, 2000
	Abstract:	(ABSTRACT)
	Quantity:	6 Betacam SP videocassettes, 1 half-Hollinger box containing (NUMBER) folders of accompanying materials.
	Identification:	A2000.026
	Language:	The interviews and records are in English

Biographical Note

Born on October 5, 1928, Herb Kent was raised on Chicago's South Side, where he received early musical inspiration from the Rhythm & Blues clubs that dotted his neighborhood. By age sixteen, Kent had already given an on-air performance on Chicago's WBEZ radio station with his workshop. The year was 1944, and Kent's passion for radio was solidified. During the remainder of the decade, he continued to participate in workshops, particularly with the Skyloft Players, a local theater company. He built scenery and performed in the ensemble along with the other players for several years.

The theater was a perfect testing ground for the improvisational skill required to host a radio program, and in this environment Kent excelled. Finally, in 1952 he was given a salaried position as a radio personality with WGES radio, where he hosted a country and western show. He developed a distinctive on-air style and, with it, a substantial fan base. After three years with the station, he moved on to the head announcer position at WBEE.

Throughout the following two decades, Kent hosted radio shows on several stations in Chicago. Kent's style of humor, critique, and banter was immediately recognizable to his loyal listeners, no matter what station broadcast his shows. Many in the broadcasting community have said Kent helped launch the careers of such R& B artists as The Temptations, Minnie Ripperton, Curtis Mayfield and Smokey Robinson due to his enthusiastic, on-air embrace of their music.

During the 1960s, Kent also became a prominent civil rights activist. For several years, he broadcast live from a different high school each week so that he could provide community youth with an alternative to the typical Friday night activities. Today, he continues his work with community leaders to create programs that will provide a productive environment for South Side youth.

Kent's many awards and recognitions include his 1995 induction into the Museum of Broadcast Communications Radio Hall of Fame. In 1996, Kent witnessed the dedication of a street on Chicago's South Side in his honor. He was also recognized by a U.S. postage stamp bearing his likeness. The following year, Kent was named honorary mayor of Bronzeville by the citizens of the South Side community.

Biographical Note by The HistoryMakers®

Scope and Contents

This life oral history interview with Herb Kent was conducted by Julieanna Richardson on 2000-02-15 in Chicago, Illinois and is recorded on 6 30-minute Betacam SP videocassettes. Access copies exist on Betacam SP, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1. The interview contains information on (COMPLETE ONE SENTENCE DESCRIPTION OF INTERVIEW). Accompanying materials in the collection include Herb Kent's correspondence with The HistoryMakers® related to the interview; a copy of the signed release form and the production report; the biographical information used by the interviewer to prepare for the interview (DETAILS); paper copies of the interview transcripts, 3 1/2" floppy disks with electronic copies of the transcripts; selected quotes for video clips; photocopies of photographs captured on video; XML files with metadata created in editing and cataloguing the interview for The HistoryMakers Digital Video Library; and paper copies of these XML files.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Access to paper records is restricted. Other restrictions may be applied on a case-by-case basis.

Restrictions on Use

All use of materials must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers® and appropriate credit must be given. All use credits must be pre-approved by The HistoryMakers®. Copyright is held by The HistoryMakers®.


Index Terms
	This record series is indexed under the following controlled access terms.
	Contributors:

		Kent, Herb, 1928-
		Richardson, Julieanna
	Persons:
		(PERSONS)
	Corporate Bodies:
		(CORPORATE BODIES)
	Family Names:
		Kent
	Places:
		(PLACES)
	Subjects:
		(SUBJECTS)
	Document Types:
		Video oral history interview
	Titles:
		The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Herb Kent

Related Material

Accompanying materials: Accompanying materials are filed in (NUMBER) folders in a half-Hollinger box and shelved at The HistoryMakers® Archives and Collection Library by accession number, separately from the videos.

Administrative Information

Location of Originals

Betacam, VHS, DVD and MPEG-1 access copies are held for in-house use at The HistoryMakers®; Betacam SP, VHS and DVD playback hardware is provided for in-house viewing of the access copies; MPEG-1 copies are searchable and viewable via a digital video database.

Preferred Citation

The HistoryMakers® Video Oral History Interview with Herb Kent, February 15, 2000. The HistoryMakers® African American Video Oral History Collection, 1900 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois.

Detailed Description/Tape Listings

Video Oral History Interview with Herb Kent, Tape 1, February 15, 2000, TRT: 00:27:14:28.

Radio disc jockey Herb Kent begins by describing his childhood, focusing on living with a single mother and explaining the influence she had on him. Kent describes his experience at Hyde Park High School, a white school, explaining his success and his ability to thrive in an all-white environment. He talks about first becoming interested in radio while in high school, and going on the air for the first time as a teenager. Kent describes the environment of the Ida B. Wells housing project on Chicago's South Side in which he spent his teenage years. He describes his childhood personality, and talks about his mother's family background. Kent tells the story of first becoming inspired to pursue a career in radio. Finally, Kent talks about studying radio broadcasting at Northwestern University, with the intent of becoming a classical music announcer. He details the racism he encountered while pursuing this goal, despite his academic success.

Video Oral History Interview with Herb Kent, Tape 2, February 15, 2000, TRT: 00:28:44:24.

Herb Kent begins with a candid discussion of his personal views regarding racism, race relations, and cultural differences between whites and blacks. He describes the racial climate of Chicago as he observed it as a young man. Kent details his first experiences in black radio, focusing on the two disc jockeys who mentored him, Al Benson and Sam Evans. Kent describes the working conditions of the several radio stations for which he worked, detailing instances of racism. Kent talks about the success and fame of his mentors, and briefly discusses his public image. Finally, Kent describes in detail leaving one radio station to work with disc jockey Sam Evans at WGES.

Video Oral History Interview with Herb Kent, Tape 3, February 15, 2000, TRT: 00:27:54:16.

Herb Kent talks about the popularity of African American disc jockeys in Chicago during the 1940s and 1950s, particularly Al Benson. Kent describes his move to WBEE, a smaller radio station, explaining how he benefited from the increased salary and freedom he received at his new station. Kent has a long discussion about the popularity of "doo-wop" R&B groups in the 1950s, explaining how he helped expose such groups to both black and white audiences. Kent explains how unknown bands would use popular disc jockeys as a way to achieve fame. Kent explains how his popularity with both white and black audiences allowed him to easily transition from WBEE to an all-white station, WJOB.

Video Oral History Interview with Herb Kent, Tape 4, February 15, 2000, TRT: 00:28:01:07.

Herb Kent discusses how rock and roll music has changed from black music to white music. He describes a strike at WBEE, which led him to move to WHFC. Kent details how record producer Leonard Chess bought WHFC, changing it to WVON, which became the first twenty-four hour black radio station. Kent describes Chess's success in the music industry as a record producer and radio station owner. Kent briefly describes some of his colleagues at WVON. He details the success of WVON, crediting the vivid on-air personalities, community involvement, and family-oriented programming. Kent relates some humorous stories about some of the characters he created for WVON, including the origin of Wahoo Man. Kent talks about popular African American disc jockeys in the Chicago area who influenced his career.

Video Oral History Interview with Herb Kent, Tape 5, February 15, 2000, TRT: 00:30:30:23.

Herb Kent discusses the decline of WVON in the face of a changing industry, and details his own dismissal, explaining how he changed his broadcasting style to adapt to contemporary radio. This allowed him to maintain his popularity over a long period of time. Kent talks about some of the racism he faced during his time at other radio stations. He talks about his television career, particularly how his 'Steppin' at Club Seven' television program helped him become famous outside the African American community. Kent raises his concerns for the future of African Americans, focusing on the need for economic advancement. Kent discusses the effect of media conglomerates on the radio industry.

Video Oral History Interview with Herb Kent, Tape 6, February 15, 2000, TRT: 00:23:05:27.

Herb Kent talks about how technological advances will impact the radio broadcasting industry. He reflects on his popularity and explains how he is able to feel young at seventy years of age. He briefly mentions his mother and talks about how she viewed his success. Kent details some of his favorite musicians, recognizing their artistry and talent. He discusses the enormous impact black music has made on American society, and explains the role of black disc jockeys in helping to promote black music, describing some of Chicago's most influential black disc jockeys.