Art Laboe

2022 - 10 - 10

Pioneering DJ Art Laboe, who coined 'oldies but goodies,' dies at 97 (NPR)

Laboe is credited with inventing the "oldies, but goodies" phrase, as well as with helping end segregation in Southern California by organizing live DJ ...

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. 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. "Here is someone who gave a voice to the most humble of us all through music," Alcaraz said. Laboe maintained a strong following throughout the years and transformed into a promoter of aging rock-n-roll acts who never faded from Mexican American fans of oldies. Cars jammed Sunset Boulevard where Laboe broadcast his show and advertisers jumped to get a piece of the action. Places such as the El Monte's American Legion Stadium played much of the music Laboe aired on his radio show, giving birth to a new youth subculture. When the United States entered World War II, Laboe served in the Navy. "It was the first time he had heard his baby's voice," Laboe said. "I don't judge," Laboe said in a 2018 interview with The Associated Press at his Palm Springs studio. 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. Anthony Macias, a University of California, Riverside ethnic studies professor, said the music Laboe played went with the dedications enhancing the messages. Laboe is also credited with coining the "oldies, but goodies" phrase.

'Oldies but Goodies': Longtime radio DJ Art Laboe dies at 97 (The Washington Post)

Art Laboe, the pioneering radio DJ credited with helping end segregation in Southern California, has died.

Lalo Alcaraz, a syndicated cartoonist and television writer who grew up listening to 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. 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. Laboe maintained a strong following throughout the years and transformed into a promoter of aging rock ‘n’ roll acts who never faded from Mexican-American fans of oldies. Places such as the El Monte’s American Legion Stadium played much of the music Laboe aired on his radio show, giving birth to a new youth subculture. Cars jammed Sunset Boulevard where Laboe broadcast his show, and advertisers jumped to get a piece of the action. 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. As a DJ for KXLA in Los Angeles, Laboe bought station time and hosted live overnight music shows from drive-ins where he would meet underground rockabilly and R&B musicians. 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. He moved to California, attended Stanford University and served in the U.S. Anthony Macias, a University of California, Riverside ethnic studies professor, said the music Laboe played went with the dedications, enhancing the messages. and in 1958, released the compilation album “Oldies But Goodies: Vol. California and Arizona inmates would send in their own dedications and ask Laboe for updates from family.

Art Laboe, Legendary Radio DJ Who Created Oldies but Goodies ... (Variety)

Art Laboe, the disc jockey known for his long-running dedications show and launching the Original Sound label, died Oct. 7 at the age of 97.

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. By 1958, “The Art Laboe Show” was a feature of radio station KPOP (now KTNQ) and his show originating from the popular Scrivner’s Drive-In restaurant in Hollywood was televised live on KTLA-TV. Thank you to our dedicated fans that have listened through the decades and made ‘The Art Laboe Connection’ a family tradition,” he said. Pop, Rock and Roll in Los Angeles 1956-1972.” “When Elvis Presley came to town in 1956 with manager Colonel Parker, their only interview granted was to Laboe. His “Art Laboe Connection” aired in Los Angeles on KDAY-FM on Sunday nights, as well as many other stations throughout the Southwest. He was one of the first DJs to play rock ‘n’ roll and R&B on West Coast radio stations.

Art Laboe, the legendary Southern California radio DJ, dead at 97 (Redlands Daily Facts)

Joanna Morones, who went to work for Laboe as his executive assistant in 1995, and eventually served as his producer, marketer and promotions person, said Laboe ...

Laboe, who has been on the air in Southern California since 1943, is credited with coining the phrase “oldies, but goodies”. Radio legend Art LaBoe, left, records part of his show with his producer and executive assistant, Joanna Morones, at his studio in Palm Springs, CA, on Thursday, Feb 6, 2020. But that’s one of the big ones.” Radio legend Art LaBoe at his studio in Palm Springs, CA, on Thursday, Feb 6, 2020. “Rest in eternal peace, Art Laboe,” Martie Evans wrote. (Photo courtesy of the Art Laboe Archives) A few dozen comments later, Lydia Serradell predicted Laboe will live on in the hearts of listeners. “There’s a song by a group called the Skyliners and it’s called, ‘Since I Don’t Have You,’” he says. Asked in 2020 when he’d made his radio debut, Laboe took a worn union card out of his wallet and pointed to the place where it said he’d been a member since 1943. “He was the voice of love,” David R. Since the 1950s Art Laboe has hosted live shows with the oldies but goodies he champions. Laboe was also famous as one of the first DJs to take the music to the people.

Art Laboe, disc jockey who dubbed compilation album “Oldies But ... (Los Angeles Times)

Art Laboe gets ready for his call-in dedication radio show in the KDAY studios in Palm Springs in 2015. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times).

And he had such a connection to El Monte that the city proclaimed March 10 Art Laboe Day and erected a fountain in his honor at the site of the long ago demolished Legion Stadium He moved to Palm Springs in 2015 when his broadcast moved to KDAY-FM (93.5). Over the airwaves he was anonymous, and listeners, he was pleased to find, were drawn to his voice. In his studio, he used to ease into his leather chair just before 7 p.m. They filled his annual concerts by the thousands and made him part of the emerging Chicano identity. Laboe used to greet fans at the door and help them out with 50-cent pieces if they were short on money. His parents divorced when he was 13 and he moved to South Los Angeles to live with his sister. His audience grew so large at the drive-in that Laboe began to host dance shows. Here comes Art Laboe and his devil music.” Laboe, a plainspoken man with sharp business instincts, dove in and promoted the music. He was a loner growing up, he said in a Times profile, a small Armenian kid who “wasn’t a big, good-looking hunk.” “He reached out and touched people growing up in this melting pot.

Muere el legendario DJ Art Laboe, a los 97 años (Telemundo 52)

Art Laboe, el DJ pionero al que se atribuye haber ayudado a acabar con la segregación en el sur de California, ha muerto. Tenía 97.

Como DJ de KXLA en Los Ángeles, Laboe compró tiempo en la estación y presentó programas de música en vivo durante la noche desde autocines donde conoció a músicos clandestinos de rockabilly y R&B. Se mudó a California, asistió a la Universidad de Stanford y sirvió en la Marina de los EE. Laboe tampoco pareció juzgar a sus oyentes que pedían dedicatorias para sus seres queridos en prisión, dijo Alcaraz. Más tarde ese año, Laboe regresó a las ondas de radio de Los Ángeles en otra estación. Anthony Macias, profesor de estudios étnicos de la Universidad de California en Riverside, dijo que la música que tocó Laboe iba con las dedicatorias que realzaban los mensajes. “Era la primera vez que escuchaba la voz de su bebé”, dijo Laboe.