Art Laboe has made legendary impactful news over the airwaves in L.A. and is a part of history in the radio and entertainment industry. Thats why we sought him out.. More stimulating talk and news radio in Los Angeles and Orange County. PALM SPRINGS, Calif. Art Laboe, the pioneering radio DJ credited with helping end segregation in Southern California, has died. 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.''. Out went old-school funk and R&B. 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. 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. This is partially true. And this tough, hard-nosed guy burst into tears., Otto Padron, the CEO of Meruelo Media, called Laboe "a colossal presence in LA and an irreplaceable part of the 93.5 KDAY family.". It also streams online at oldschool1047.com. 1, which stayed on the Billboards Top 100 chart for 183 weeks. Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines of Oct. 10, Prince Harry addresses 'Spare' backlash in interview: 'I have never looked for sympathy in this', Shania Twain was 'uncontrollably fragile' from ex Mutt Lange's affair with friend: 'How could I be so stupid', Olivia Newton-John's daughter Chloe reveals 'promise' she made to mother before her death, Emma Stones 'And' co-star Willem Dafoe had her slap him 20 times to get scene right, Prince Harry's 'attacks' on 'villain' Camilla led to Frogmore Cottage eviction: expert, Film industry reacts to death of 'Saving Private Ryan' star Tom Sizemore: 'You're a legend'. at 11 a.m. About R Dub! Joanna Morones, who went to work for Laboe as his executive assistant in 1995 . Top 20 Golden Age Hip-Hop Albums She also became a radio co-host for the college's "Wired Live at 5" and "Rock-a-Holics.". After decades on air, Laboes legacy now includes a passing of the torch to Old School Becky Lu. Power 106 might regularly play Y.G., DJ Mustard and the artists on TDE, but it only began doing so after theyd built a national fan base. Audience members would attend the shows in person to request songs and dedications. Why CDs May Actually Sound Better Than Vinyl Born Arthur Egnoian in Salt Lake City, he started tinkering with radios as a youth, and is said to have built his own station by the age of 12. He was DJ'ing right up until then. "I dont judge," Laboe said in a 2018 interview with the Associated Press at his Palm Springs studio in California. Art Laboe memorabilia can be seen at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum's interactive Rock and Radio exhibit in Cleveland, Ohio. He is just embraced and beloved by the creative community, says McNeil. Like a lot of folks in Southern California, the team at Dublab are big fans of Laboe. His show has been syndicated since 1991. The voices and stories that came from it enveloped him. It's still hard., From Laboe, Luna said she learned a strong work ethic, business savvy and ongoing passion for the job. 3:18. Download the iHeartRadio iOS app today and enjoy your favorite music, live & local radio stations, playlists, and podcasts! This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Former Associated Press reporter Russell Contreras contributed biographical material to this report. Laboe died Friday at his home in Palm Springs, following a bout with . (AP Photo/Russell Contreras, File), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. California and Arizona inmates would send in their own dedications and ask Laboe for updates from family. ``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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Laboe also worked behind the scenes to promote concerts and produce records on his own label, Original Sound. Lavender Haze Taylor Swift Midnights 2:10 AM. All rights reserved. He moved to California to attend Stanford University before he served in the Navy during World War II. Recently Played. Laboe was married and divorced twice. 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 produced his final episode last week, and it aired on Sunday, October 9. 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. Laboe, who hosted a show on Los Angeles radio station KDAY, died Friday of pneumonia, according to a statement on his Facebook page. By 1958, The Art Laboe Show was a feature of radio station KPOP (now KTNQ) and his show originating from the popular Scrivners Drive-In restaurant in Hollywood was televised live on KTLA-TV. He started the show when he was just 16 years old. I mean, the phones just went crazy with people calling in, saying they were sorry and they too felt like they lost somebody, because Art's voice was part of their lives., It felt like a void, really, Luna said. Find him online at passionweiss.com, follow him on Twitter and also check out his archives.]. "Then Art comes out and they just melt. I don't think people understand how significant it is as far as communication goes, says Garay. (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. In came The Real 92.3, offering 10,000 joints in a row of "real hip . iHeartRadio launches the "ValenTime Machine Playlist . Oct 11, 2022. By the mid-1950s, he was a staple on Los Angeles radio stations, broadcasting live from Scrivner's Drive-In in Hollywood. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. As a teen, she and her family would often tune into Laboe in the car as they headed home to the Inland Empire after visiting relatives in LA. This story was updated on October 11, 2022 to correct that Laboe did not coin the phrase oldies, but goodies but popularized it. 10:35 Tisto 10:35 2:17 AM. ", Art Laboe hosted an annual Art Laboe Valentine's Super Love Jam concert for his radio fans. 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. Artist Radio gives you the power to create custom stations from your favorite songs, albums or musical artists. [Update: Art Laboe is coming back to the Inland Empire . 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. (Michael Ochs Archives). Around 9 a.m. on a Friday in February, the radio station 92.3 FM abruptly switched formats. So was my mom! Tune in to 93.5 KDAY for "The Art Laboe Connection Show". Now, Dublab has opened up the format to include contributions from Laboe's audience at large. Top 40 radio in the 70s, 80s and 90s was big and exciting. He was famous for taking calls from listeners who sought to send out dedications to loved ones, and in later decades forged a sentimental connection not just with nostalgia enthusiasts but a Latino fan base in particular. 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 . For on-air promo, the Burbank-based 92.3 recruited rappers to hurl subliminal shade at Power 106 as though it wasnt a matter of them wanting to kiss the ring of iHeartRadio, the corporate behemoth formerly known as Clear Channel. Thank you to our dedicated fans that have listened through the decades and made The Art Laboe Connection a family tradition, he said. Meruelo Media, the company that owns KDAY, confirmed his death. Email: marissa.garcia@pointbroadcastingllc.com. His syndicated radio show, "The Art Laboe Connection," still plays on stations in Los Angeles, Oxnard, Riverside and Palm Springs. He was 97. Later that year, Laboe returned to the Los Angeles airwaves on another station. "And I havent let go since," Laboe said. His final show was . I mean, they look scary," Nogales said. Tyler Boudreaux, who goes by Boogie Boudreaux and started her work as a DJ at KCRW in 2021, said that although she is a Black woman, her job didn't seem like something that was groundbreaking as she was forging her way. I like people., He often told a story about a woman who came by the studio so her toddler could tell her father, who was serving time for a violent crime, Daddy, I love you., It was the first time he had heard his babys voice, Laboe said. He introduced Ricky Nelson to the radio airwaves. Morones said Laboe was aware his audience would welcome "a female voice" and someone who spoke Spanish before inviting Luna to co-host. 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. 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. He was known for his "oldies but goodies" catchphrase and decades of work on terrestrial radio. The scene that Laboe helped cultivate in California became of the nations most diverse. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Then Art comes out and they just melt. 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! The rules are clear. is the creator, producer and host of the internationally syndicated radio show, Sunday Night Slow Jams, currently heard on over 200 radio stations in 14 countries. 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. Congratulations banners still hang on the walls, from when the show celebrated one of Laboe's many anniversaries of being on the radio. As a listener, you want to identify with someone and you want to hear them get excited about things that you get excited about.". Art passed away at the age of 97, after catching pneumonia. One lucky, FAMILY AFFAIR: INSIDE SNOOP DOGG AND HIS BOSS LADY, By continuing to use our site, you agree to our, Tommy Lasorda: Part Of 5 Freeway Honoring Former Dodger Manager, Newsom Ends 3-Year COVID-19 State of Emergency In California, Vanessa Bryant And L.A. 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Address: 242 East Airport Drive Suite 202 San Bernardino, CA 92408. His show has been syndicated since 1991. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. When she started at the show, Luna recalls feeling a bit intimidated but mostly eager to learn. Laboe made his radio debut in 1943, during World War II, on KSAN in . Long before "Now That's What I Call Music!" 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. 10/10/2022 3:49 PM PT. 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. Super Freaky Girl Nicki Minaj Super Freaky Girl 2:23 AM. The station was KSAN 1450 AM. His second passion is travel: he's currently on a mission to see all 193 countries on the planet. Its warned her to power down the station or face fines and other penalties. He was one of the first DJs to play rock n roll and R&B on West Coast radio stations. Art has been very cool and supportive of Dublab over the years, says McNeill. Listeners can also stream his show online and through various apps. 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. He later developed a strong following among Mexican Americans for hosting the syndicated "The Art Laboe Connection Show." Art Laboe hosted an annual Art Laboe Valentine's Super Love Jam concert for his radio fans. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. 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 . My dad was a party DJ and he was an aspiring on-air DJ," she said. One of the sayings he had for himself was 'Don't walk through it.' Meruelo Media, the company that owns KDAY, confirmed his death. [An L.A. native, L.A. Weekly columnist Jeff Weiss edits Passion of the Weiss and hosts the Shots Fired podcast. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Taking over for Art Laboe was a natural fit for Old School Becky Lu. 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. Enter to Win a digital download of A Man Called Otto PLUS a $50 savings pass from 1-800-Flowers! . Initially, in 2006, the show was broadcasted out of Los Angeles, but according to Morones, Laboe grew tired of LA and began working more out of the Coachella Valley studio in 2013. 0. 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. "Bongo Rock" was remade by the Incredible Bongo Band, which made its own history with a similar track in 1973, "Apache," believed by many to be the origin song of hip-hop. 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. I mean, they look scary, Nogales said. 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. That's the . 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. The company saw an opportunity for a hip-hop and R&B station that could fill a market that wasnt being served, explains Doc Wynter, iHeartRadios senior vice president of urban programming and program director of The Real 92.3. Here is someone who gave a voice to the most humble of us all through music, Alcaraz said. KXEW Radio Tejano 1600 AM: Sunday 6 p.m. to midnight, also heard nationwide on iHeartRadio. Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. 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. 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. Teen listeners soon identified Laboes voice with the fledgling rock n roll scene. But by nature of her being Latina, there are new elements that have been introduced, she said. Only 36% of all radio DJs in the country are women. He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2012. "From there, my love for music really grew, because it's always been a part of me. I have one of the best jobs in the world, playing the music, interacting with our listeners, doing their dedications and connecting them with their loved ones! He points out that the station honored the anniversary of The Notorious B.I.G.s death by discussing the rappers legend on-air, and playing one of his songs each hour. "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. With more than 860 live broadcast stations in 153 markets across America, there's a local iHeartRadio station virtually everywhere. The new station deserves time to find its own voice and tone, but it would be wise to dig deeper than Truffle Butter. Plenty of regional stars with mainstream potential are out there. All your favorite music, podcasts, and radio stations available for free. Listen for free on iHeart! February 15, 2023 at 8:55 am. "I got my own built-in research," Laboe said. Cars jammed Sunset Boulevard where Laboe broadcast his show, and advertisers jumped to get a piece of the action. Candace Silva-Torres, a producer and DJ for KCRW in Los Angeles known as DJ SiLVA, relates. 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 a desire to be accepted. Becoming Riff Raff: How a White Suburban Kid Morphed Into Today's Most Enigmatic Rapper. His work was syndicated well beyond California and thorughout the Southwest. R Dub! Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. By 1956, Laboe had an afternoon show and became the citys top radio program. . Roe. 1," which stayed on the Billboard's Top 100 chart for 183 weeks. But he started gracing the airwaves at age 13, when he started an amateur radio station from his bedroom. 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. 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. Website: oldschool1047.com. Listen to Art Laboe on Jammin' 99.5. Laboe, who was twice divorced, was preceded in death by two sons, three sisters and a brother. These are some of the biggest Top 40 hits ever played on the radio, VP/programming Bob Walker said in a release. Like us on Facebook at LAWeeklyMusic Art Laboe, the pioneering radio DJ credited with helping end segregation in Southern California, has died. Audience members would attend the shows in person to request songs and dedications. The FCC has released a warning it sent to the alleged operator of a pirate station operating at 101.3 FM in Santa Cruz, CA. ", It was the first time he had heard his babys voice, Laboe told The Associated Press in 2019. Laboe was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2012. 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 . Laboe's shows broadcast on a handful of stations in California, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. Laboe was often tapped by Hollywood as a consultant and music producer. Some listeners simply treasure memories with music. Around 9 a.m. on a Friday in February, the radio station 92.3 FM abruptly switched formats. "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. You have permission to edit this article. Laboe is credited with helping end segregation in Southern California by organizing live shows at drive-ins that attracted crowds of all races. When COVID hit in 2020, she became Laboe's co-host to lessen some of the challenges of remote production. Around that time, as a new generation of acts began to overshadow the 1940s and 50s musical pioneers, Laboe saw an opportunity to tap into nostalgia with compilation albums of early hits from the rock, R&B and doo-wop eras. Top 20 Worst Bands of All Time The Best Live, Local Radio Stations. The story also said Dick Hugg better known by listeners as "Huggy Boy" began hosting a call-in . 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. The Envelope Please The team at Magic 92.5 have been working on Laboe's award presentation since last year. 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. The new 92.3 snatched away Power 106s venerable morning host, Big Boy. Its a role Laboe said he felt honored to play. Art Laboe, the pioneering Los Angeles DJ who championed the Oldies but Goodies format and was revered for sharing on-air dedications with listeners, died Oct. 7 in Palm Springs, Calif. Laboe was the founder of the Original Sound record label and the host of the long-running Art Laboe Connection syndicated radio program. His label later found success, in 1959, with the hits "Bongo Rock" by Preston Epps and "Teen Beat"by Sandy Nelson. The Laboe-curated sound of the Chicano Southwest, including R&B, rock 'n' roll and soul oldies, became a soundtrack for cruising lowriders and classic cars, and Laboe delivered it like a postal worker rain or shine. He later received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And don't miss Art Laboe's Sunday Special, Sundays, 6pm til midnight. 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 . She said plans for a memorial will be announced later. 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.