Funeral arrangements set for legendary DJ Herb Kent

Funeral arrangements have been made for legendary Chicago radio DJ Herb Kent, the “Cool Gent” with a 70-year broadcasting career who helped launch talents including Smokey Robinson, the Temptations and Curtis Mayfield.

He died Saturday, the same day he hosted his final show on V103.

Mr. Kent’s viewing is planned from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Robey Park Manor Funeral Home, 2510 Chicago Rd., Chicago Heights. His wake is scheduled at 9 a.m. Saturday until a 10 a.m. homegoing service at the 10,000-seat House of Hope, 752 E. 114th St., Chicago.

Chaz Ebert, widow of Chicago Sun-Times film critic and blogger Roger Ebert, described his influence this way: “His radio show — the music, his announcements about the community, politics, civil rights, and his admonishments to young people about how to behave — was so much a part of my growing up years in Chicago, that he felt like a godfather to the African-American community.”