Longtime personality, programmer, record promoter, and syndication network owner Tom Kent passed away on Monday, June 24 at the age of 69.

‘Truckin’ Tom Kent would begin his career as a teenager at WAIR Winston-Salem NC hosting overnights while in high school. He joined WHBQ Memphis as night host in 1974 and then spend time at WIXY Cleveland, KFJZ and KLIF Dallas, WIBG Philadelphia, WMJX Miami and WGCL Cleveland through the 70s. In 1980, Kent joined WLS Chicago and then program WBZZ Pittsburgh, WAVA Washington DC and WRQC Cleveland. Kent then moved to the record industry where he served as Midwest Promotions Manager for Elektra Records from 1990 to 2004.

Kent first entered the syndication business in 2002 with the formation of the TKO Radio Network where he hosted the nightly Oldies show “Hall of Fame Coast to Coast” and the 1970s centric weekly show “Into The 70s”. He would sell the company and resign from the network in 2007, but launch the “Tom Kent Radio Network” the following year.

Claiming over 600 affiliates nationwide, among the offerings still produced by TKRN include the Classic Hits “24/7 Fun” network where he hosts afternoons, the nightly “Tom Kent Music Magazine”, and custom tracked “TK Daily Download”. Kent also hosted the following weekly shows: “My 70′s Show,” “Lovin’ Life, Livin’ the 80′s,” “Totally 90s Show,” “TK2K,” “The Classic Hits Countdown,” and “The Ultimate Party with Tom Kent”. Two of Kent’s three children, Steve Kent and Jackie Newton have followed him into radio hosting shows for the Tom Kent Radio Network.

Kent is survived by his wife Karen, daughters Jackie and Katie, son Steven and their spouses. The network plans to keep operating providing its 23 services across seven formats for the foreseeable future.