He produced his final episode last week, and it aired on Sunday, October 9. It happened late last year after a bout of pneumonia. FILE - DJ Art Laboe sits in his studio and talks about his 75 years in the radio business on Oct. 9, 2018, in Palm Springs, Calif. Laboe, a pioneering disc jockey who hosted a syndicated oldies show for decades, died Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. See All Recently Played. He was also among the first DJs to play music by both Black and white artists, and he built a major following among Latino communities across the region. She said plans for a memorial will be announced later. His radio shows gave the families of incarcerated loved ones, in particular, a platform to speak to their relatives by dedicating songs and sending messages and updates. Art Laboe is honored with the first-ever Magic 92.5 Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes the broadcast veterans many achievements over his 75-year career. The American disc jockey Art Laboe, who has died aged 97, may have been the first person to recognise that a rock'n'roll song could enjoy a life beyond its few . 'Oldies but Goodies': Longtime radio DJ Art Laboe dies at 97 Eventually, he landed a job as a radio announcer at KSAN in San Francisco and adopted the name Art Laboe after a boss suggested he take the last name of a secretary to sound more American. Ive also heard them play old DJ Quik. His syndicated radio show, ``The Art Laboe Connection,'' still plays on stations in Los Angeles, Oxnard, Riverside and Palm Springs. LAWeekly Instagram: Featuring the culture of LA since 1978 , Relationship with the Victim* Enter to Win a digital download of A Man Called Otto PLUS a $50 savings pass from 1-800-Flowers! iHeartRadio lets you access the world of music and radio in one simple platform. Radio DJ Art Laboe, who interviewed Elvis for radio in the 1950s before he helped make Black music and Latino youths lifelong friends, has died. I don't know any other radio program that really offers that. McNeil recalls his visit to Laboe's studio, where he saw family photos of listeners that were clearly taken in prison. Laboe died Friday at his home in Palm Springs, following a bout with pneumonia, according to Joanna Morones of Laboe's production company. I think that, for me, that helped. He was known for his "oldies but goodies" catchphrase and decades of work on terrestrial radio. She added that all the love and condolences coming in from the listeners and the artists and the people that knew him was also comforting. Art Laboe, a pioneering US DJ credited with coining the phrase "oldies, but goodies", has died, aged 97. . The Art Laboe Connection. Were so happy hes a part of the Magic 92.5 family and we were incredibly proud to present him with the stations very first Lifetime Achievement Award. Legal Statement. On Tuesday, flowers will be placed on Laboe's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But by nature of her being Latina, there are new elements that have been introduced, she said. So was my mom! Art Laboe, a pioneering voice in radio who created one of its most famous phrases, is dead after battling pneumonia. Fri 14 Oct 2022 10.19 EDT. Laboe's show focuses on unlocking listeners' memories, but he's helping people create them, too. LAWeekly Instagram: Featuring the culture of LA since 1978 , Relationship with the Victim* Audience members would attend the shows in person to request songs and dedications. Its a role Laboe said he felt honored to play. Art Laboe memorabilia can be seen at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum's interactive Rock and Radio exhibit in Cleveland, Ohio. Various Artists - Art Laboe Oldies, Vol. 3 | iHeart When asked what new L.A. rappers he was checking for, Wynter singled out The Game and Problem both longtime staples on Power 106. Watch this informative interview led by LA newsman Tony Valdez and find out how he got his first job in radio, how his dedications started and when he started a drive in show in 1955, right as Elvis first records came out. 1," which stayed on the Billboard's Top 100 chart for 183 weeks. With the rise of dance music, Power 106 has gone from where hip-hop lives to where hip-hop sublets. Market data provided by Factset. SpouseParentChildSiblingFamily memberOther, Sweet James has my permission to help provide a free police report, Art Laboe (seated, on the right) with DJs Bill Barlett and Paul Scrivner; Credit: Courtesy of Art Laboe (Artlaboe.com) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons, Ciel Spa aka @CielSpaBH located the SLS Hotel i, Welcoming over 100,000 people every year, what beg, The holiday season is a time of giving! Art Laboe Family, Net Worth, Parents, Wife & Biography I got my own built-in research, Laboe said. Joanna Morones, who went to work for Laboe as his executive assistant in 1995 . Oldies Stations | iHeartMedia Stations | iHeartMedia When folks call in to his radio show, he listens to them. The 89-year-old DJ has been a radio staple for decades, a champion of new music in the early days of rock & roll who went on to help locals tell their stories through the string of heartfelt dedications that comprise the Art Laboe Connection.. LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Memorial flowers will be placed Tuesday on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star of Southern California radio pioneer Art Laboe, who spent seven decades behind a microphone, brought rock 'n roll to the West Coast and coined the phrase "Oldies but Goodies." Laboe died at age 97 on Friday at his home in Palm Springs, following a . Laboe is credited with helping end segregation in Southern California by organizing live shows at drive-ins that attracted crowds of all races. The shift disenchanted thousands of listeners. Pioneering DJ Art Laboe dies, aged 97 | DJMag.com Hall Communications has added a translator and flipped ESPN Sports 1340 WNBH New Bedford, MA to classic hits as Big 101.3 The station airs on WNBH and the New Bedford-licensed translator W267CY at 101.3. When Elvis Presley came to Hollywood, Laboe was one of the few to get an interview with the new rockabilly star. They're also getting contributions from former locals who have since moved to various parts of the country. Legendary Art Laboe hosts "Love Zone," Weekday evenings from 9PM until 12midnight. SpouseParentChildSiblingFamily memberOther, Sweet James has my permission to help provide a free police report, Big Boy in the studio at The Real 92.3; Credit: Courtesy of iHeartRadio, Ciel Spa aka @CielSpaBH located the SLS Hotel i, Welcoming over 100,000 people every year, what beg, The holiday season is a time of giving! Meruelo Media, the company that owns KDAY, confirmed his death. In came The Real 92.3, offering 10,000 joints in a row of real hip-hop and R&B. This loosely translated to a playlist disproportionately comprised of Drake featuring Drake. Even though youre still more apt to hear a Canadian artist than one from Compton on 92.3, Wynter says that local artists feature prominently in the stations goals. He was born Arthur Egnoian to an American-Armenian family in Salt Lake City. iHeartMedia Stations | iHeartMedia @laweeklymusic, The 20 Best Hip-Hop Songs in History Here is someone who gave a voice to the most humble of us all through music, Alcaraz said. "Rest In Peace Art . For example, songs like Little Anthony & the Imperials "Im on the Outside (Looking In)" and Wars "Dont Let No One Get You Down" spoke of perseverance and desire to be accepted. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. He was 97. In 2015, iHeartMedia's KHHT-FM (92.3) dropped Laboe's syndicated oldies show after the station abruptly switched to a hip-hop format, sparking angry protests in Los Angeles. Art Laboe - Home - Facebook Through investigation, the FCC says they determined Nancy Graham was the operator. [Update: Art Laboe is coming back to the Inland Empire . Father of oldies Art Laboe returns to medium he owned - The Desert Sun Through his Original Sound Entertainment, he released Oldies But Goodies and Dedicated to You collections that helped preserve a host of West Coast one-hit wonders such as Angel Baby by Rosie and the Originals and the original Earth Angel by the Penguins. Art Laboe dies at 97; DJ played (and popularized) 'oldies but goodies' The key is to appeal to my large Hispanic/black following and the general audience. ``Art Laboe has fostered a rare relationship with his audience,'' Josh Kun, a professor at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, said in a statement released by Laboe's company. Long before "Now That's What I Call Music!" LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Memorial services were pending today for Southern California radio pioneer Art Laboe, who spent seven decades behind a microphone, brought rock 'n roll to the West Coast and coined the phrase ``Oldies but Goodies.''. Laboe moved his show to 93.5 KDAY after his iHeartRadio-owned home station, Hot 92.3, changed formats in 2015. But he started gracing the airwaves at age 13, when he started an amateur radio station from his bedroom. Born Arthur Egnoian in Salt Lake City to an Armenian-American family, Laboe grew up during the Great Depression in a Mormon household run by a single mom. In 2015, iHeartMedia's KHHT-FM (92.3) dropped Laboe's syndicated oldies show after the station abruptly switched to a hip-hop format, sparking angry protest in Los Angeles. Lalo Alcaraz, a syndicated cartoonist and television writer who grew up listening to Art Laboe in San Diego, said the DJ maintained a strong following among Mexican Americans for generations because he always played Latino, White and Black artists together on his shows. Laboe also was involved with music licensing for such films as Dirty Dancing, La Bamba, Lethal Weapon, Good Morning Vietnam (all released in 1987) and 1989s Born on the Fourth of July. Original Sound Entertainment also represented songs for film and TV licensing by such notables as the Beach Boys, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ritchie Valens, the Stylistics, the Everly Brothers, Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and the Isley Brothers. All Rights Reserved. More stimulating talk and news radio in Los Angeles and Orange County. Gary Garay, who hosts the monthly Dublab show Mas Exitos con Ganas, grew up in Southern California's high desert and has been listening to Laboe for years. February 15, 2023 at 8:55 am. (Pictured: Art Laboe at the 2008 Hollywood Christmas Parade). Places such as the El Montes American Legion Stadium played much of the music Laboe aired on his radio show, giving birth to a new youth subculture. iHeartMedia America's #1 Audio Company Reaching 9 out of 10 Americans every month. Laboe is credited with coining the phrase oldies, but goodies.. Out went old-school funk and R&B. Its a role Laboe said he felt honored to play. "Laboe was the voice that they would listen to on their rides or their Sunday kickbacks at the park or barbecuing with their family," she said. Art Laboe, Pioneering Disc Jockey, Dies at 97 | Pitchfork The final show from Laboe, who is credited with coining the phrase "oldies but goodies," was broadcast Sunday. All rights reserved. Even by the overheated standards of terrestrial radio, it felt forced. [Update: Art Laboe is coming back to the Inland Empire. Because a lot of the times the party was over by Sunday night, I remember the hour or so drive back home, listening to Art Laboe on the radio, Silva-Torres said. He was known for his "oldies but goodies" catchphrase and decades of work on terrestrial radio. Becky Lu was a natural fit. Years later, when I joined my college radio station, I hosted a weekly call-in request show as an homage to Art Laboe. He doesn't rush them off the air. Art Laboe is gone but oldies show will continue - axios.com He later moved to California to attend Stanford. Later that year, Laboe returned to the Los Angeles airwaves on another station. Laboe died at age 97 on Friday at his home in Palm Springs, following a bout with pneumonia, according to Joanna Morones of Laboe's production company. Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images file. Art passed away at the age of 97, after catching pneumonia. Reach her at eliana.perez@thedesertsun.com or on Twitter @ElianaPress. "His passing leaves a huge hole in the community, and his legacy of connecting to generations of Angelinos on heartfelt dedications and connections to the soul of LA, which cannot be replaced," Padron said in a statement. Both Garay and McNeill emphasize the dedications that serve as messages to people behind bars. She said plans for a memorial will be announced later. "We're so happy he's a part of the Magic 92.5 family and we were incredibly proud to present him with the station's very first Lifetime . Others seek connection despite distance or circumstance Luna estimates that just under half of the requests the show gets are from people in prison who want to communicate with their loved ones on the outside.. Thats why we sought him out.". George Lucas worked with Laboe on licensing tunes for the soundtrack of his 1973 smash American Graffiti, and Laboe was proud of ensuring that the artists got their due and their cut of licensing revenue. They love him.. LOS ANGELES . Only 36% of all radio DJs in the country are women. On Twitter, the popular music store shared a photo of one of Laboe's "Dedicated to You" CDs. However, it dawned on her during a DJ meeting at her station that consisted of solely women. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Art Laboe (August 7, 1925 - October 7, 2022) was an American disc jockey, songwriter.Art Laboe Family, Net Worth, Parents, Wife & Biography read all about him in this article.Laboe died of pneumonia on October 7, 2022, at the age of 97. But he started gracing the airwaves at age 13, when he started an amateur radio station from his bedroom. Laboe continued to host regular programming until just a few days before his death. I see these really tough looking guys in the crowd. They set up a Google phone number that fans can call to record their messages between now and March 1. Art had talked about (adding) someone young, with a vivacious personality, she said. Also remembering Laboe on social media was Amoeba Music. We can say this is a local show, she added. "I dont judge," Laboe said in a 2018 interview with the Associated Press at his Palm Springs studio in California. You have permission to edit this article. Read More FILE - DJ Art Laboe sits in his studio and talks about his 75 years in the radio business on Oct. 9, 2018, in Palm Springs, Calif. Laboe, a pioneering disc jockey who hosted a . The Art Laboe Connection does have to meet certain music criteria of our flagship station Hot 92.3. Former Associated Press reporter Russell Contreras contributed biographical material to this report. Art Laboe, longtime oldies DJ, dies at 97 - fox5sandiego.com His first broadcasts came from Scrivner's Drive-In theater in Hollywood. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Stream live CNN, FOX News Radio, and MSNBC. Morones said the show "didn't put up a flagpole" to announce Luna's transition to sole host to make it smoother. "From there, my love for music really grew, because it's always been a part of me. WILLIAM SHATNER REFLECTS ON FALLOUT WITH 'STAR TREK' PAL LEONARD NIMOY, HISTORIC KISS WITH NICHELLE NICHOLS. "I like people. (Michael Ochs Archives). Art Laboe, a disc jockey for more than 50 years, hosts his Art Laboe Valentine's Super Love Jam concert in Glendale, Ariz., on Feb. 13, 2009. Though the stations playlist has mostly not yet reflected it, Wynter envisions Real 92.3 as a more purist alternative. Top Songs. Magic 92.5 Presents Art Laboe with Lifetime Achievement Award KPCC-FM public radio station rebranding as LAist 89.3 Laboe was among the first if not the first DJ to program to the vast market of Latino listeners in Southern California, creating a . A permanent display of Laboes contributions resides in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland. Stream Art Laboe free online. 10/10/2022 3:49 PM PT. There were two other girls, so (they) were training me on how to take the calls, how to write out the dedications and how to set them up for Art, because Art had a certain way, she said. People appreciate it, Luna said. He brought us together. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. (Celia Jacobs for The Times) For the record: 10:39 a.m. Feb. 17, 2023: An earlier edition of this story stated that Art Laboe started his radio career at KSAN 107.FM. "He has always treated people with respect and taken them very seriously -- not as a marketing demographic, not a source of potential advertising revenue, but he has taken them seriously as a community, and as individuals. What turned out to be his final broadcast aired Sunday night, after being recorded last week. After serving in the Navy during World War II and working in the Bay area, he moved to Los Angeles KXLA-AM in 1950 (the station later became KRLA), according to a Laboe history written by author Harvey Kubernik. Address: 242 East Airport Drive Suite 202 San Bernardino, CA 92408. KXEW Radio Tejano 1600 AM: Sunday 6 p.m. to midnight, also heard nationwide on iHeartRadio. Regular listeners were already familiar with her as a co-host, and Morones said she trusted Laboe's expertise at spotting talent.. Its warned her to power down the station or face fines and other penalties. Eliana Perez covers the eastern Coachella Valley. Top 40 radio in the 70s, 80s and 90s was big and exciting. He later began hosting wildly popular dance shows in El Monte. These elements include Luna's ability to pronounce names, read dedications and talk to callers in Spanish, because she is bilingual. Some listeners simply treasure memories with music. No one could deserve this recognition more.. In 2015, iHeartMedia's KHHT-FM dropped Laboe's syndicated oldies show after the station abruptly switched to a hip-hop format, sparking angry protests in Los Angeles. The 93-Year-Old Deejay Who Connects Prisoners to Loved Ones - MEL Magazine Art Laboe's been credited as the first on-air personality to play Rock n' Roll on the West Coast and is one of the . "In Art Laboe terms, it means give it your all." . . LOS ANGELES, June 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- 93.5 KDAY-FM radio, SoCal's home of original hip-hop and R&B and the leading media brand under Meruelo Media, proudly welcomes and announces LA's Iconic . Art was the first Disc Jockey to play Rock and Roll on the West Coast airwaves, one of the first DJs to play both black and white artists and the first DJ to have an "Elvis Hour," the . KABG Big 98.5 Albuquerque: . KOKO 94.3 Fresno, CA,(a station owned by Art Laboe): . In 2015, iHeartMedias KHHT-FM dropped Laboes syndicated oldies show after the station abruptly switched to a hip-hop format sparking angry protests in Los Angeles. iHeartRadio launches the ValenTime Machine Playlist, which lets listeners enter their anniversary date to find a playlist of the most popular love songs from their anniversary year. Laboe's shows broadcast on a handful of stations in California, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. He later returned to the Southern California area, but a radio station owner told the aspiring announcer he should work on becoming a radio personality instead. Laboe, who was known for coining the phrase "oldies but goodies," produced his last radio show after 75 years on the air last week, which broadcast Sunday night. PALM SPRINGS, Calif. Art Laboe, the pioneering radio DJ credited with helping end segregation in Southern California, has died. Also, listen to Gary Garay's tribute to Art Laboe's "Original Sound" label on Dublab. The radio legend is credited with pioneering industry standards such as audience requests and song dedications, and he is believed to be the first DJ to play rock 'n roll tunes on Los Angeles radio. ", It was the first time he had heard his babys voice, Laboe told The Associated Press in 2019. Local record hop show from Southern California. It's really cool because she will share in common that same experience, you know, as a lot of the listeners.. News Bites: Art Laboe, ValenTime Machine Playlist, Dick Smothers. Laboe died Friday night at home in Palm Springs, California, after catching pneumonia, said Joanna Morones, a spokesperson for Laboe's production company, Dart Entertainment. His radio shows gave the families of incarcerated loved ones, in particular, a platform to speak to their relatives by dedicating songs and sending heartfelt messages and updates. Alex Nogales, president and CEO of the Los Angeles-based National Hispanic Media Coalition, said generations of Latino fans attended Laboe-sponsored concerts to hear the likes of Smokey Robinson, The Spinners or Sunny & The Sunliners. Join Art as he takes your requests, Live, Monday through Friday. "We want to hear from people that are like us. Laboe's reliance on cohorts of sound instead of race led to a subtle revolution: It helped to desegregate venues that featured rock and its sonic brethren. The DJ is also credited with popularizing the phrase oldies, but goodies. In 1957, he started Original Sound Record, Inc. and in 1958, released the compilation album Oldies But Goodies: Vol. A permanent display of Laboes contributions resides in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland. His baritone voice invited listeners to call in dedications and request a 1950s-era rock n roll love ballad or a rhythm and blues tune from Alicia Keys. The scene that Laboe helped cultivate in California became of the nations most diverse. "Here is someone who gave a voice to the most humble of us all through music," Alcaraz said. I dont judge, Laboe said in a 2018 interview with The Associated Press at his Palm Springs studio. Send me a love song: How L.A. became hopelessly devoted to radio FILE - DJ Art Laboe sits in his studio and talks about his 75 years in the radio business on Oct. 9, 2018, in Palm Springs, Calif. Laboe, a pioneering disc jockey who hosted a syndicated oldies . Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers. Download the iHeartRadio iOS app today and enjoy your favorite music, live & local radio stations, playlists, and podcasts! Dublab's Dedicated to Art Laboe project is a chance for fans to call, leave messages and send out songs with a kiss. Website: oldschool1047.com. Find him online at passionweiss.com, follow him on Twitter and also check out his archives.]. The scene that Laboe helped cultivate in California became of the nations most diverse. Live from Los Angeles 24/7. In 2015, iHeartMedia's KHHT-FM (92.3) dropped Laboe's syndicated oldies show after the station abruptly switched to a hip-hop format sparking angry protests in Los Angeles. Oh my gosh, Luna gushed. Catch up on the developing stories making headlines. Although our competitor purported to be one, theyre more of a rhythmic station that plays some hip-hop.. BACK TO THE FUTURE STARS CHRISTOPHER LLOYD AND MICHAEL J. The radio legend is credited with pioneering industry standards such as audience requests and song dedications, and he is believed to be the first DJ to play rock 'n roll tunes on Los Angeles radio. We were all sitting down kind of looking at each other, like, this is really special. In recent decades, Laboe was noted for allowing inmates' relatives to send in dedications intended to be heard by their incarcerated loved ones. ], Like us on Facebook at LAWeeklyMusic Eventually, he landed a job as a radio announcer at KSAN in San Francisco and adopted the name Art Laboe after a boss suggested he take the last name of a secretary to sound more American. The 20 Sexiest Songs of All Time. It also streams online at oldschool1047.com. A two-minute video recapping Art's life and accomplishments played over the arena's big screens, with images of Art Laboe from the 40s til today, alongside greats like Jerry Lee Lewis, Dick Clark and Little Richard.The crowd's eyes were fixated on the black and white images of . His second passion is travel: he's currently on a mission to see all 193 countries on the planet. Laboe was married and divorced twice. ", Art Laboe hosted an annual Art Laboe Valentine's Super Love Jam concert for his radio fans. Art Laboe - Hollywood Walk of Fame