The Cool Gent Speaks: Radio Personality Herb Kent Opens up About Michael Jackson and President Barack Obama

The Cool Gent Speaks: Radio Personality Herb Kent Opens up About Michael Jackson and President Barack Obama

Herb Kent is radio. Since the age of 14, the Chicago native and member of the Radio Hall of Fame has worked steadily on the air and is known for having interviewed some of the most prominent names in African American history. Recently the 80-year-old Kent released a book about his life, music history and overcoming drug addiction entitled, ” The Cool Gent: The Nine Lives of Radio Legend Herb Kent.” Rolling out caught up with Kent in his studio and during our half-hour session he broke down some of his most memorable on-air interviews with everyone from The King of Pop to President Barack Obama.
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Interviewing Michael Jackson
“He was about 18. We went all the way around and got to my Michael and he said, ‘Heelllo,’ (in a very feminine voice). I was a pretty good-looking dude back then and he never stopped looking at me. I’ll never forget that – I thought I was talking to a girl. I went to my program director and said, ‘Man, what’s wrong with Michael Jackson?’ He said, ‘Michael Jackson, he doesn’t know whether he wants to be a little boy or a little girl.’ I said, ‘Hell, I knew that.’”


Interviewing President Barack Obama
“They said he was an African Senator. I’ll tell you the truth – and he won’t believe this — I had never seen the man. I expected a man in a little loin cloth with a bone in his nose …He was a very pleasant and we became friends and that helped the both of us because a lot of people knew him and they knew he had presidential ambitions at this time. As a matter of fact, he came back again and I think that was the way the people that were running his campaign had of getting his name out there to registered voters because a lot of people listen to that show.”

Pam Grier
“I had her in the studio one Saturday afternoon. I interviewed her and she didn’t want to stop the interview. I kept trying to leave and she kept talking. I didn’t know what the deal was.”


Comparing Ike Turner to Chris Brown
“With Ike, I think there were more drugs involved. I interviewed him and told me, ‘I never loved [Tina].’ That’s what he said. He said, ‘You know something, if I called her today, she would be back tomorrow.’ And then he said, ‘Excuse me while I get behind this bush and smoke this reefer.’”

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