Remembering Tom Kent
• UPDATED: The family of TKRN and United Stations Radio Network is deeply saddened to announce the passing of radio icon Tom Kent, who died Monday morning, June 24 at his home in suburban Cleveland after a two-year battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family.
Tom Kent was born in Winston-Salem, NC in August 1954 and caught the radio bug early in high school. In the ’70s & ’80s, Kent (a.k.a. “TK Truckin’ Tom Kent”) cracked the mic at WLS/Chicago, KLIF/Dallas, WIBG/Philadelphia, WGCL & WIXY/Cleveland, WMJX/Miami, and WAVA/Washington, D.C. He also programmed WBZZ/Pittsburgh.
Kent got off the “radio-go-round” in the late 1980s and transitioned to the label side with Elektra Records, until he eventually decided to go back to what he loved most: RADIO! On June 29, 2002, Kent launched the Tom Kent Organization and its radio network, the TKO Radio Network, focused on Oldies programming from 1964 to 1973.
Exactly five years later — June 29, 2007 — Kent resigned as host, sold the company, and launched the Tom Kent Radio Network with programming that included a five-hour live daily show, The Music Magazine as well as weekend shows: The Ultimate Party (a live five-hour Saturday evening party show) and My ’70s Show (a five-hour 70s show) and many others, including a 24/7 Network.
Joel Denver, President of All Access Enterprises, LLC, remarked, “Tom and I knew each other and were great friends from 1973 until his passing. He did nights for me when I was PD at WMJX (96X)/Miami in 1977-78 and he really brought his passion for radio and his love of music to the studio every day.” He continued, “A talented and super positive individual, I watched Tom move into the record side for a number of years and then return to radio to begin the Tom Kent Radio Network with a number of great shows heard on over 600 affiliates. Tom leaves behind a legacy of excellence as well as a wonderful family, including Karen, his wife of 44 years, and their three children. I will dearly miss Tom, as we spoke almost daily.”
Tom Kent is survived by his wife Karen, daughters Jackie (Newton) and Katie, son Steven and their spouses. Both Jackie and Steve host shows on TKRN’s 24/7 FUN network. Radio videographer and historian, Art Vuolo, who knew Tom Kent for over 45 years and has him listed in his phone as “America’s Last Great DJ,” produced this wonderful video tribute to Tom Kent posted HERE.
• For the foreseeable future, the network plans to keep operating and providing affiliates with awesome, entertaining programming. TKRN is comprised of hundreds of great radio stations with 23 different products in seven different formats. The network also includes two full-time 24/7 networks.
