The show is aired on stations throughout the Southwest. News Bites: Art Laboe, 'ValenTime Machine Playlist,' Dick Smothers WHITNEY HOUSTON PRODUCER CLIVE DAVIS IS EXCITED FOR NEW FILM: NOBODY HAS TOUCHED THE REAL PERSON OF WHITNEY, Art Laboe died Friday at the age of 97. Laboe hosted dances at the El Monte Legion Stadium; in 1960, he teamed with Dick Clark to stage an unprecedented rock n roll show at the Hollywood Bowl that sold 18,000 tickets.. Listen for free on iHeart! Art Laboe death: L.A.'s radio community pays tribute to icon - Los Laboe later returned to the Los Angeles airwaves on another station. His Art Laboe Connection aired in Los Angeles on KDAY-FM on Sunday nights, as well as many other stations throughout the Southwest. Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images file. Some listeners simply treasure memories with music. Art Laboe and host of the television show "American Bandstand" Dick Clark chat in 1960. (Jay L. Clendenin), He often told a story about a woman who came by the studio so that her toddler could tell her father, who was serving time for a violent crime, "Daddy, I love you. Father of oldies Art Laboe returns to medium he owned - The Desert Sun "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. By 1956, Laboe had an afternoon show and became the citys top radio program. On Air - Jammin' 99.5 FM KOST 103.5 FM - Your Feel Good Station and Home of the Ellen K Morning Show. 10:35 Tisto 10:35 2:17 AM. 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. Join Art as he takes your requests, Live, Monday through Friday. Laboe put hits from disparate artists on one LP record, and the products sold well. LOS ANGELES -- Art Laboe, the pioneering radio DJ who read heartfelt song dedications to generations of . Being Mexican American myself we were always at these huge family gatherings and like, big barbeques and different birthdays and celebrations. Its a role Laboe said he felt honored to play. Laboe was an inductee into the National Radio Hall of Fame. 'Oldies but Goodies': Longtime radio DJ Art Laboe dies at 97 Art Laboe obituary | Pop and rock | The Guardian After decades on air, Laboes legacy now includes a passing of the torch to Old School Becky Lu. Laboe is credited with helping end segregation in Southern California by organizing live shows at drive-ins that attracted crowds of all races. And this tough, hard-nosed guy burst into tears.. Roe. Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. 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. Magic 92.5 Presents Art Laboe with Lifetime Achievement Award Listen to top radio stations, music, news, podcasts, sports, talk, and comedy shows. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. "Without Art Laboe, Im So Lonely I Could Cry," wrote essayist Adam Vine. Laboe, who was twice divorced, was preceded in death by two sons, three sisters and a brother. Also, listen to Gary Garay's tribute to Art Laboe's Original Sound label on Dublab. Right now, were starting off with records that people are familiar with, but we have to break local records over time.. LAWeekly Instagram: Featuring the culture of LA since 1978 , Relationship with the Victim* 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. Art Laboe died Friday at the age of 97. Laboe began his career in San Francisco in the early 1940s, then bounced among a host of stations across the state, primarily in Southern California. "Here is someone who gave a voice to the most humble of us all through music," Alcaraz said. What's next: "The Art Laboe Connection Show" will air on stations like 93.5 KDAY Los Angeles and KOKO Jammin' 94.3 Fresno on Sunday nights from 6 pm to midnight PT. When COVID hit in 2020, she became Laboe's co-host to lessen some of the challenges of remote production. Over the years, his shows were heard on stations including KFWB, KXLA, KPOP, KDA, KPPC, KRTH, KRLA and KFI. So far, the response has been interesting. 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. Morones said Laboe was aware his audience would welcome "a female voice" and someone who spoke Spanish before inviting Luna to co-host. 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. In recent decades, Laboe was noted for allowing inmates' relatives to send in dedications intended to be heard by their incarcerated loved ones. 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. We are sending our love, today, to the family of beloved SoCal radio host Art Laboe. Art Laboe, longtime oldies DJ, dead at 97 | Fox News This was a strong way of communication to reach incarcerated loved ones, says McNeil. Art Laboe, longtime oldies DJ, dies at 97 - fox5sandiego.com He has a collection on permanent exhibit at Clevelands Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 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. @laweeklymusic, West Coast Sound's Greatest Hits! 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. Eliana Perez covers the eastern Coachella Valley. Catch up on the developing stories making headlines. 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. In 1957, he started Original Sound Record Inc., and in 1958 he released the compilation album "Oldies But Goodies: Vol. 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. They're also getting contributions from former locals who have since moved to various parts of the country. He was 97. Find him online at passionweiss.com, follow him on Twitter and also check out his archives.]. They also both loved oldies, but for Laboe, that was the 50s and 60s eras while for Luna, it's the sounds of the 70s and 80s. The final show from Laboe, who is credited with coining the phrase "oldies but goodies," was broadcast Sunday. (Michael Ochs Archives). With the rise of dance music, Power 106 has gone from where hip-hop lives to where hip-hop sublets. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. 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. Laboe soon became one of the first DJs to play R&B and rock n roll in California, which helped him identify with teen listeners. Art Laboe, who recently marked 79 years on air, was a pioneering DJ widely credited with desegregating Southern California's airwaves, in addition to popularizing the phrase "oldies but goodies." 'Oldies but Goodies': Longtime radio DJ Art Laboe dies at 97 Laboe is credited with helping end segregation in Southern California by organizing live DJ shows at drive-in eateries that attracted white, Black and Latino listeners who danced to rock n roll and shocked an older generation still listening to Frank Sinatra and Big Band music. Meruelo Media, the company that owns KDAY, confirmed his death. It wouldnt hurt to follow the model of its ancestor, 92.3 The Beat, which featured Eazy-Es Ruthless Radio Hour.. Also remembering Laboe on social media was Amoeba Music. It also streams online at oldschool1047.com. Though she once aspired to be a sideline sports reporter on TV, after her time on the COD shows, Luna was convinced her calling was radio. Without Art Laboe, Im So Lonely I Could Cry, wrote essayist Adam Vine. Stream Art Laboe free online. 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. [An L.A. native, L.A. Weekly columnist Jeff Weiss edits Passion of the Weiss and hosts the Shots Fired podcast. Just last month, Laboe, who was born Aug. 7, 1925, celebrated his 79-year anniversary as an active radio personality. His first Los Angeles station was KPOP, and he eventually played records on KRLA. Art passed away at the age of 97, after catching pneumonia. His show has been syndicated since 1991. 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. The Art Laboe Connection. It happened late last year after a bout of pneumonia. Laboe and Luna shared an eclectic taste in music, overlapping on some favorite genres including doo-wop and rock. His sister sent him his first radio when he was 8 years old. On Tuesday, flowers will be placed on Laboe's Walk of Fame star at 6800 Hollywood Blvd. Laboe, who hosted a show on Los Angeles radio station KDAY, died Friday of pneumonia, according to a statement on his Facebook page. McNeill noticed that not all of the callers are current L.A. residents. 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. Thats more than I can say of Power 106, which has banished classic rap almost entirely to its throwback hour. Discover how an iHeartRadio station can deliver connect your message with your audience, live and local, right where you live. Mr. Laboe, who died Oct. 7 at 97, broadcast from radio stations across California and the Southwest, where his call-in show served as a community bulletin board and gathering space, a platform for . Thats why we sought him out.". 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 . Both Garay and McNeill emphasize the dedications that serve as messages to people behind bars. We can say this is a local show, she added. Art Laboe is responsible for many "firsts" in the radio and record business. Laboe also didnt appear to judge listeners who asked for dedications for loved ones in prison, Alcaraz said. In the mid-1950s, Laboe was the top daytime radio DJ in Los Angeles. Anthony Macias, a University of California, Riverside ethnic studies professor, said the music that Laboe played went with the dedications enhancing the messages. Discover thousands of live and local AM and FM radio stations near you and from cities all over the world. @laweeklymusic, The 20 Best Hip-Hop Songs in History Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Listen to Art Laboe on Jammin' 99.5. Art Laboe, the legendary Southern California radio DJ, dead at 97 And don't miss Art Laboe's Sunday Special, Sundays, 6pm til midnight. He was born Arthur Egnoian to an American-Armenian family in Salt Lake City. Why CDs May Actually Sound Better Than Vinyl Discover thousands of live and local AM and FM radio stations near you and from cities all over the world. He started the show when he was just 16 years old. He soon became one of the first DJs to play R&B and rock n roll in California. 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.". His first broadcasts came from Scrivner's Drive-In theater in Hollywood. His sister sent him his first radio when he was 8 years old. The station has a connection to Laboe, too. My favorite place to be is behind that microphone, Laboe said at the time of the 79-year anniversary in September. 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. What's Next for Real 92.3 FM, the Station That Got Rid of Art Laboe Luna, 43, began working with Laboe in 2016, when she was hired as a call screener for The Art Laboe Connection at the recording studio on Desert Park Avenue in Palm Springs. Through investigation, the FCC says they determined Nancy Graham was the operator. iHeartMedia America's #1 Audio Company Reaching 9 out of 10 Americans every month. So was my mom! November 19, 1958. He was known for his "oldies but goodies" catchphrase and decades of work on terrestrial radio. After World War II, Laboe returned to Southern California, but a radio station owner told the aspiring radio announcer he should work on becoming a "radio personality" instead. After all, the old Hot 92.3 doubled as L.A.s lone funk bastion and home of the legendary lowrider Casanova, 89-year-old Art Laboe. Art Laboe, the pioneering DJ credited with helping end segregation in Southern California, has died. Art Laboe, D.J. Who Popularized 'Oldies but Goodies,' Dies at 97 Born Arthur Egnoian in Salt Lake City to a Mormon Armenian-American family, Laboe grew up during the Great Depression in a household run by a single mom. Audience members would attend the shows in person to request songs and dedications. Joanna Morones, who went to work for Laboe as his executive assistant in 1995 . [Update: Art Laboe is coming back to the Inland Empire . All Rights Reserved. Enter to see Sting: My Songs The Las Vegas Residency (4/8 - 4/10), Enter to win tickets to see Madonna at Kia Forum (1/7/24), Enter to win a trip to see James Taylor in Las Vegas (June 2023), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. ``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. Smothers filled the daypart most recently occupied by Bubba The Love Sponge, who is now on sports sister WHBO (1040). Over the years, his shows were heard on stations including KFWB, KXLA, KPOP, KDA, KPPC, KRTH, KRLA and KFI. Art Laboe and rock n roll musician Chuck Berry pose for a portrait in circa 1975. 'Oldies but Goodies': Longtime Oldies DJ Art Laboe Dies at 97 When Art Laboe's near-nightly shows were dumped from 92.3 FMduring a format shift earlier this month, Los Angeles was left without a voice that is part of the fabric of the city. Its warned her to power down the station or face fines and other penalties. On Tuesday, flowers will be placed on Laboe's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Art Laboe Show Opening (1958) - YouTube In 2015, iHeartMedias KHHT-FM (92.3) dropped Laboes syndicated oldies show after the station abruptly switched to a hip-hop format, sparking angry protests in Los Angeles. ", "It was the first time he had heard his babys voice," Laboe said. Listen Live - slowjams.com As a DJ for KXLA in Los Angeles, Laboe bought station time and hosted live overnight music shows from drive-ins where hed meet underground rockabilly and R&B musicians. 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. Laboe was the very first DJ to spin West Coast rock n roll, to merge race music under one broadcast, Kubernik wrote in the book Turn Up The Radio! Laboe attended high school in Los Angeles, then broke into the airwaves in San Francisco on radio station KSAN in September 1943. The 93-Year-Old Deejay Who Connects Prisoners to Loved Ones - MEL Magazine Art Laboe, Pioneering Disc Jockey, Dies at 97 | Pitchfork (COVID) created a little bit of a distance, because we didn't see him every day. Meruelo Media, the company that owns KDAY, confirmed his death. iHeartRadio lets you access the world of music and radio in one simple platform. Art Laboe, legendary Southern California DJ, talks about the early days Though Laboe was Armenian American, his work was appreciated by people of a variety of backgrounds. Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. They set up a Google phone number that fans can call to record their messages between now and March 1. Candace Silva-Torres, a producer and DJ for KCRW in Los Angeles known as DJ SiLVA, relates. Oct 11, 2022. More stimulating talk and news radio in Los Angeles and Orange County. Laboe also didnt appear to judge his listeners who asked for dedications for loved ones in prison, Alcaraz said. Later that year, Laboe returned to the Los Angeles airwaves on another station. 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. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Laboe, who hosted a show on Los Angeles radio station KDAY, died Friday of pneumonia, according to a statement on his Facebook page. Congratulations banners still hang on the walls, from when the show celebrated one of Laboe's many anniversaries of being on the radio. The scene that Laboe helped cultivate in California became of the nations most diverse. Art had been the first person to play the Sun Records of Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis. But it was in Los Angeles where he found a formula that worked: playing Black and white R&B music and rock together for the city. "I see these really tough-looking guys in the crowd. Joanna Morones, who produces The Art Laboe Connection and worked with Laboe for over 20 years, said seeing him less due to the pandemic somehow helped her cope with the loss. 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. Fri 14 Oct 2022 10.19 EDT. By 1956, Laboe had an afternoon show and became the citys top radio program. "Without Art Laboe, I'm So Lonely I Could Cry," wrote essayist Adam Vine. All your favorite music, podcasts, and radio stations available for free. Teen listeners soon identified Laboes voice with the fledgling rock n roll scene. There's only ONE Art Lebow, and he's only on Jammin' 99.5FM - Coachella Valley's Old School! 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. "We want to hear from people that are like us. Radio DJ Art Laboe, who helped desegregate music venues and celebrated Later, she'll sit behind the mic in the chair where Laboe once sat, and read song dedications from people of all walks of life. [Update: Art Laboe is coming back to the Inland Empire. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The broadcaster continued to produce and present radio shows right up . 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. And I havent let go since, Laboe said. Art Laboe dies at 97; DJ played (and popularized) 'oldies but goodies' "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.