Both stations are managed by NIA Broadcasting. "Art Laboe's legacy will endure as his team will continue to produce his current nightly request and dedication syndicated radio show, 'The Art Laboe Connection,'" the post said. Top 40 radio in the 70s, 80s and 90s was big and exciting. He was 97. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Taking over for Art Laboe was a natural fit for Old School Becky Lu. No one could deserve this recognition more.. This dedication goes out to Art Laboe from your LA radio fans, thank you for the memories. His label later found success, in 1959, with the hits "Bongo Rock" by Preston Epps and "Teen Beat"by Sandy Nelson. Artist Radio gives you the power to create custom stations from your favorite songs, albums or musical artists. He later developed a strong following among Mexican Americans for hosting the syndicated The Art Laboe Connection Show. His baritone voice invited listeners to call in dedications and request a 50s-era rock n roll love ballad or a rhythm and blues tune from Alicia Keys. 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. 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. 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. 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 . Legendary Art Laboe hosts "Love Zone," Weekday evenings from 9PM until 12midnight. He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2012. Also remembering Laboe on social media was Amoeba Music. 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. 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. Laboe made his radio debut in 1943, during World War II, on KSAN in . 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. Getty. 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." Art Laboe memorabilia can be seen at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum's interactive Rock and Radio exhibit in Cleveland, Ohio. From making sure they hugged goodbye after work to driving him to get groceries at the local Albertsons, Luna said they found their regular things.. In doing The Art Laboe Connection on her own, Luna said she is not trying to reinvent or change it. 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. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras, File), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Roger Campos (DJ, Funkmosphere) My favorite memory of Art Laboe was sometime . The Art Laboe Connection. Recently Played. 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. Candace Silva-Torres, a producer and DJ for KCRW in Los Angeles known as DJ SiLVA, relates. 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. Leave a dedication to Art Laboe at 323-412-0681. Legal Statement. Dublab's Dedicated to Art Laboe project is a chance for fans to call, leave messages and send out songs with a kiss. Listen to Jennifer Jones Lee on Wake Up Call, Bill Handel Morning Show, Gary and Shannon, John and Ken, Tim Conway Jr, Coast to Coast AM, KFI News and more on KFI AM 640! All rights reserved. Audience members would attend the shows in person to request songs and dedications. He later moved to California to attend Stanford. Oct 10, 2022. Thats why we sought him out.". They set up a Google phone number that fans can call to record their messages between now and March 1. A permanent display of Laboes contributions resides in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland. Laboe was born Arthur Egnoian in Salt Lake City to an Armenian American family. Art had been the first person to play the Sun Records of Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis. Enter to Win a digital download of A Man Called Otto PLUS a $50 savings pass from 1-800-Flowers! He is just embraced and beloved by the creative community, says McNeil. The voices and stories that came from it enveloped him. The Art Laboe Show. Tune in to 93.5 KDAY for "The Art Laboe Connection Show". 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 is nothing short of a living legend, Dub said in a release. So was my mom! 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. 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. November 19, 1958. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. And it wouldnt hurt to bring back Art Laboe, either. (JC Olivera). WiLD 94.9 Music. When folks call in to his radio show, he listens to them. Laboe also recorded a video dedication for McNeill's wedding. 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. He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2012. Those stick even after fans leave town. Imagine succeeding someone who'd been at his job for 79 years. My dad was a party DJ and he was an aspiring on-air DJ," she said. 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.. He remembers when dedications came from local listeners, then included callers from other states. I mean, they look scary," Nogales said. You have permission to edit this article. They're also getting contributions from former locals who have since moved to various parts of the country. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers. On Twitter, the popular music store shared a photo of one of Laboe's "Dedicated to You" CDs. Radio Legend Art Laboe on Doing Business with Bob Hope, Hanging with Elvis and Today's Talk Talent (Q&A) On Nov. 10, the man who first played rock 'n' roll on a west coast station will be . In 1981, the Los Angeles City Council declared July 17 Art Laboe Day. His syndicated radio show, ``The Art Laboe Connection,'' still plays on stations in Los Angeles, Oxnard, Riverside and Palm Springs. Laboe's show focuses on unlocking listeners' memories, but he's helping people create them, too. 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. All Rights Reserved. "To be on the radio in those early 1950s days, Art had to pay the station. American disc jockey, songwriter, record producer, and Data from the job posting website Zippia.com, Taking over for Art Laboe was a natural fit for Old School Becky Lu. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. I think that, for me, that helped. Dick Smothers, best known as one-half of the Smothers Brothers comedy duo, guest-hosted mornings on Genesis Communications news/talk WWBA Tampa (820) on Monday, Feb 11. 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. 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. Laboe is credited with coining the phrase oldies, but goodies.. Laboe, born Arthur Egnoian in 1925, got into radio before they called announcers DJs. While Laboe is something of an L.A. phenomenon he was hosting events in El Monte before many of his listeners were born his reach extends beyond the Southland. ], Like us on Facebook at LAWeeklyMusic February 15, 2023 at 8:55 am. He was known for his "oldies but goodies" catchphrase and decades of work on terrestrial radio. Its a role Laboe said he felt honored to play. His first broadcasts came from Scrivner's Drive-In theater in Hollywood. Listen online or download the iHeart App. The story also said Dick Hugg better known by listeners as "Huggy Boy" began hosting a call-in . "He brought us together. Laboe was also known for his live concerts that attracted top acts, but were beloved by audiences simply for seeing the famed DJ in person. It's the first time in KCRW history, actually, where it's majority women and it feels like there's a bubble bursting.. Music/Radio Icon broadcasting Sundays 6p-midnight PDT & Monday to Thursday 9:00p-midnight PDT on The Art Laboe Connection with. His show has been syndicated since 1991. It also streams online at oldschool1047.com. He was known for his "oldies but goodies" catchphrase and decades of work on terrestrial radio. 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. He has a collection on permanent exhibit at Clevelands Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "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. Thank you to our dedicated fans that have listened through the decades and made The Art Laboe Connection a family tradition, he said. In came The Real 92.3, offering 10,000 joints in a row of "real hip . Art Laboe is honored with the first-ever "Magic 92.5 Lifetime Achievement Award" for numerous achievements over his 75-year career. In recent decades, Laboe was noted for allowing inmates' relatives to send in dedications intended to be heard by their incarcerated loved ones. So far, the response has been interesting. On Tuesday, flowers will be placed on Laboe's Walk of Fame star at 6800 Hollywood Blvd. With the rise of dance music, Power 106 has gone from where hip-hop lives to where hip-hop sublets. iHeartRadio launches the "ValenTime Machine Playlist . This story was updated on October 11, 2022 to correct that Laboe did not coin the phrase oldies, but goodies but popularized it. A couple years ago, members of the Dublab crew visited him at his studio, which resulted in a long and fascinating interview conducted by journalist Josh Kun. On Location: February 24, 2023. 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 . Known for its oldies music, dedications and that legendary voice, the long-running The Art Laboe Connection continues to bring people together despite Laboes death in October at age 97. Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images file. He was 97. 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. Listen to Art Laboe on Jammin' 99.5. All your favorite music, podcasts, and radio stations available for free. I think he realized the real positive impact he was having on families who were separated through incarceration, says McNeill. Cars jammed Sunset Boulevard where Laboe broadcast his show, and advertisers jumped to get a piece of the action. Endless archives of his booming musical and programming introductions allow listeners to still hear Laboe on the radio, but it's Rebecca Luna known on air as Old School Becky Lu who now curates their requests. Also, listen to Gary Garay's tribute to Art Laboe's Original Sound label on Dublab. 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. Some listeners simply treasure memories with music. 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. Art Laboe is responsible for many "firsts" in the radio and record business. LOS ANGELES . 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 th Why CDs May Actually Sound Better Than Vinyl Morones said the production company is preparing to sell new Laboe merchandise to keep his memory alive. 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! Stream live CNN, FOX News Radio, and MSNBC. The Art Laboe Connection does have to meet certain music criteria of our flagship station Hot 92.3. Then Art comes out and they just melt. "Then Art comes out and they just melt. Add this radio's widget to your website. . 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. One of the first DJs to play Black music in California, Laboe helped introduce Latinos to R&B, rock 'n' roll and soul oldies. 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. 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 . By the mid-1950s, he was a staple on Los Angeles radio stations, broadcasting live from Scrivner's Drive-In in Hollywood. 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. Download the iHeartRadio iOS app today and enjoy your favorite music, live & local radio stations, playlists, and podcasts! 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. @laweeklymusic, West Coast Sound's Greatest Hits! 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. (Pictured: Art Laboe at the 2008 Hollywood Christmas Parade). Through investigation, the FCC says they determined Nancy Graham was the operator. His syndicated radio show, "The Art Laboe Connection," still plays on stations in Los Angeles, Oxnard, Riverside and Palm Springs. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Also, listen to Gary Garay's tribute to Art Laboe's "Original Sound" label on Dublab. Meruelo Media, the company that owns KDAY, confirmed his death. Photo: Getty Images. The ValenTimeMachine.com microsite debuted Monday, Feb. 11 and will take listeners as far back as 1970. "I got my own built-in research," Laboe said. (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. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @ElianaPress. Oh my gosh, Luna gushed. I dont judge, Laboe said in a 2018 interview with The Associated Press at his Palm Springs studio. Art Laboe and host of the television show "American Bandstand" Dick Clark chat in 1960. Email: [email protected]. He produced his final episode last week, and it aired on Sunday, October 9. 2,993 talking about this. 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. Like a lot of folks in Southern California, the team at Dublab are big fans of Laboe. [Update: Art Laboe is coming back to the Inland Empire. Episode #5. 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. Around 9 a.m. on a Friday in February, the radio station 92.3 FM abruptly switched formats. Everybody knew him at the grocery store. He later began hosting wildly popular dance shows in El Monte. Morones said the show "didn't put up a flagpole" to announce Luna's transition to sole host to make it smoother. 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 . By the mid-1950s, he was a staple on Los Angeles radio stations, broadcasting live from Scrivner's Drive-In in Hollywood. By 1956, Laboe had an afternoon show and became the citys top radio program. 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! Roe. If you care about Nas, Biggie and 2Pac, as well as todays hip-hop and R&B, youll want to spend time here, Wynter says. After decades on air, Laboes legacy now includes a passing of the torch to Old School Becky Lu. 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. ", It was the first time he had heard his babys voice, Laboe told The Associated Press in 2019. Just last month, Laboe, who was born Aug. 7, 1925, celebrated his 79-year anniversary as an active radio personality. He later received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. KOST 103.5 FM - Your Feel Good Station and Home of the Ellen K Morning Show. Pirate radio may be most common on the East Coast, but the problem isnt isolated there. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The key is to appeal to my large Hispanic/black following and the general audience. Listen for free on iHeart! 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. 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 . 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.''. "And I havent let go since," Laboe said. Laboe, who lived in Palm Springs, was known to contemporary audiences for keeping the flame alive for Latinos raised on the ultra-romantic crooner and dance group tunes of the 1950s and '60s. Luna emphasized how the Mexican American community in particular embraced Laboe, his work becoming part of lowrider car culture, prevalent in East Los Angeles and other parts of California, also in the '50s and beyond. Listen to Jennifer Jones Lee on Wake Up Call, Bill Handel Morning Show, Gary and Shannon, John and Ken, Tim Conway Jr, Coast to Coast AM, KFI News and more on KFI AM 640! The Art Laboe Day ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Union Walk, 11127 Ramona Blvd., a new 62-unit townhouse development built on part of the site of the former Legion Stadium. After serving in the Navy during World War II, Art landed a job at KSAN in San Francisco and adopted the on-air name, Art Laboe. "I dont judge," Laboe said in a 2018 interview with the Associated Press at his Palm Springs studio in California. He moved to California, attended Stanford University and served in the Navy during World War II. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. Laboe had to think of creative ways to just get paid, says Kelly, the radio veteran. We want to exude L.A., Wynter says. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Laboe died Friday night after catching pneumonia . Now, Dublab has opened up the format to include contributions from Laboe's audience at large. 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 . WILLIAM SHATNER REFLECTS ON FALLOUT WITH 'STAR TREK' PAL LEONARD NIMOY, HISTORIC KISS WITH NICHELLE NICHOLS. iHeartRadio lets you access the world of music and radio in one simple platform. His final show was . But he started gracing the airwaves at age 13, when he started an amateur radio station from his bedroom. Market data provided by Factset. Years later, when I joined my college radio station, I hosted a weekly call-in request show as an homage to Art Laboe. McNeill and the Dublab crew are interested in sending the finished piece to iHeartRadio, which controls 92.3, to show their support for Laboe as well. His sister sent him his first radio when he was 8 years old. "And this tough, hard-nosed guy burst into tears.". 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. LAWeekly Instagram: Featuring the culture of LA since 1978 , Relationship with the Victim* More stimulating talk and news radio in Los Angeles and Orange County. (Dublab even has a tutorial from Laboe on how to mimic his signature radio kisses.). Discover thousands of live and local AM and FM radio stations near you and from cities all over the world. "I see these really tough-looking guys in the crowd. 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. We were all sitting down kind of looking at each other, like, this is really special. They love him.. News Bites: Art Laboe, ValenTime Machine Playlist, Dick Smothers. 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. 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. Laboe is credited with helping end segregation in Southern California by organizing live DJ shows at drive-in eateries that attracted whites, Blacks and Latinos who danced to rock-n-roll. See All Recently Played. Art passed away at the age of 97, after catching pneumonia. He later developed a strong following among Mexican Americans for hosting the syndicated "The Art Laboe Connection Show." His second passion is travel: he's currently on a mission to see all 193 countries on the planet. 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. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The rules are clear. KDAY is the 1st Hip-Hop station in the nation! 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. Thats why we sought him out.. Listen to top radio stations, music, news, podcasts, sports, talk, and comedy shows. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers. Its been more than a dozen years since a local hip-hop station served as a legitimate talent incubator. 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. Laboe was married and divorced twice. His Art Laboe Connection aired in Los Angeles on KDAY-FM on Sunday nights, as well as many other stations throughout the Southwest. Around 9 a.m. on a Friday in February, the radio station 92.3 FM abruptly switched formats. Thats more than I can say of Power 106, which has banished classic rap almost entirely to its throwback hour. Enter to win a four-pack of tickets to Six Flags Magic Mountain! 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. 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. 0. 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.
