BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (WAFB) – Community members and music lovers mourn the loss of a Louisiana blues legend.

The Louisiana Jukebox Café announced on Friday, August 16, that Kent Rowell, better known as Luther Kent, has passed away at the age of 76.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Joan, to whom he was married for over 60 years and who shared a great tragedy with Luther a few years ago when his only child, his daughter Laurie, died,” the Louisiana Jukebox Café wrote on Facebook.

Born in New Orleans, the singer spent much of his post-adolescent life in Baton Rouge. He began singing professionally at age 14 and signed with Louisiana-based label Montel Records, his website says.

Kent gained a large following through performances in dance halls and festivals in southern Louisiana, including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

In addition to his long music career, Kent had a two-hour radio show on WBRH, for which he volunteered on weekends.

According to WBRH program director Rob Payer, Kent hosted a show called “Luther’s House Party” on Saturdays from 4 to 6 p.m. since 2014. He also helped with fundraisers for the radio station since the 1990s.

“He was a part of our WBRH family for decades and we will certainly miss him,” said Payer.

The radio station will continue to honor his memory by playing his music and continuing to air episodes of his show on Saturdays, Payer said.

Kent was among the musicians who performed at the Louisiana Rising Concert, which raised funds for victims of the 2016 floods.

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