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. 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. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. 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. It was on the radio like 2 weeks ago and I can't find it anywhere, please. As a listener, you want to identify with someone and you want to hear them get excited about things that you get excited about.". 2,993 talking about this. KOKO 94.3 Fresno, CA,(a station owned by Art Laboe): . And it wouldnt hurt to bring back Art Laboe, either. Local record hop show from Southern California. Morones said the production company is preparing to sell new Laboe merchandise to keep his memory alive. "Here is someone who gave a voice to the most humble of us all through music," Alcaraz said. Laboe was often tapped by Hollywood as a consultant and music producer. Laboe died Friday at his home in Palm Springs, following a bout with . 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 . Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. Discover how an iHeartRadio station can deliver connect your message with your audience, live and local, right where you live. IE 11 is not supported. It's still hard., From Laboe, Luna said she learned a strong work ethic, business savvy and ongoing passion for the job. 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, who hosted a show on Los Angeles radio station KDAY, died Friday of pneumonia, according to a statement on his Facebook page. Laboe, who hosted a show on Los Angeles radio station KDAY, died Friday of pneumonia, according to a statement on his Facebook page. Laboe moved his show to 93.5 KDAY after his iHeartRadio-owned home station, Hot 92.3, changed formats in 2015. LOS ANGELES -- Art Laboe, the pioneering radio DJ who read heartfelt song dedications to generations of . While the show records in the valley and is a recognized SoCal staple, it airs on 14 radio stations across California and Arizona. He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2012. 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. Our Radio App allows you to listen to top radio stations, news, sports, music, talk and comedy. It's really cool because she will share in common that same experience, you know, as a lot of the listeners.. Kids dance to Bobby Darin's "Queen of th. 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 . 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. With the rise of dance music, Power 106 has gone from where hip-hop lives to where hip-hop sublets. 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. I see these really tough looking guys in the crowd. Legendary Art Laboe hosts "Love Zone," Weekday evenings from 9PM until 12midnight. 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. 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. 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. Catch up on the developing stories making headlines. "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. 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 Laboe understates is the sheer amount of hustle it took to actually gain the respect of broadcasters as a young man and even just get the Scrivner's show on air. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Taking over for Art Laboe was a natural fit for Old School Becky Lu. "And this tough, hard-nosed guy burst into tears.". He was born Arthur Egnoian to an American-Armenian family in Salt Lake City. Out went old-school funk and R&B. November 19, 1958. He wrote it on a little Post-It, she said. When COVID hit in 2020, she became Laboe's co-host to lessen some of the challenges of remote production. His show has been syndicated since 1991. Art Laboe died Friday at the age of 97. Although our competitor purported to be one, theyre more of a rhythmic station that plays some hip-hop.. The fact that the show is being continued with the voice of a Latina feels huge because that's a lot of our audience.. "We want to hear from people that are like us. 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. "In Art Laboe terms, it means give it your all." . We were all sitting down kind of looking at each other, like, this is really special. WILLIAM SHATNER REFLECTS ON FALLOUT WITH 'STAR TREK' PAL LEONARD NIMOY, HISTORIC KISS WITH NICHELLE NICHOLS. He was 97. 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." (COVID) created a little bit of a distance, because we didn't see him every day. He later received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But though the station has distanced itself from gritty rap, its bread and butter continues to be high-calorie, hook-glazed Top 40 hip-hop, blended with the occasional Calvin Harris track. We can say this is a local show, she added. Hey, could you tell me the name of that song w the lyrics: I got a jet and we can fly it if your ever again in Arizona. These are some of the biggest Top 40 hits ever played on the radio, VP/programming Bob Walker said in a release. The final show from Laboe, who is credited with coining the phrase "oldies but goodies," was broadcast Sunday. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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. "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. The ValenTimeMachine.com microsite debuted Monday, Feb. 11 and will take listeners as far back as 1970. Thats why we sought him out.. 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. 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. R Dub! One of the first DJs to play Black music in California, Laboe helped introduce Latinos to R&B, rock 'n' roll and soul oldies. He marked 79 years on the air, "the longest continuing period of broadcast service" of any U.S. DJ, in September, according to his website. 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. Artist Radio gives you the power to create custom stations from your favorite songs, albums or musical artists. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers. On Tuesday, flowers will be placed on Laboe's Walk of Fame star at 6800 Hollywood Blvd. Meruelo Media, the company that owns KDAY, confirmed his death. It's the first time in KCRW history, actually, where it's majority women and it feels like there's a bubble bursting.. Though Laboe was Armenian American, his work was appreciated by people of a variety of backgrounds. 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. When asked what new L.A. rappers he was checking for, Wynter singled out The Game and Problem both longtime staples on Power 106. 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. WiLD 94.9 Music. I got my own built-in research, Laboe said. at 11 a.m. Candace Silva-Torres, a producer and DJ for KCRW in Los Angeles known as DJ SiLVA, relates. Laboe attended high school in Los Angeles, then broke into the airwaves in San Francisco on radio station KSAN in September 1943. He was known for his "oldies but goodies" catchphrase and decades of work on terrestrial radio. 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.. Audience members would attend the shows in person to request songs and dedications. That's the . 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. Eliana Perez covers the eastern Coachella Valley. Why CDs May Actually Sound Better Than Vinyl About R Dub! LAWeekly Instagram: Featuring the culture of LA since 1978 , Relationship with the Victim* Field agents based in the FCCs San Francisco office tracked the station to a home on Broadway. He has a collection on permanent exhibit at Clevelands Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 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. 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. Art Laboe memorabilia can be seen at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum's interactive Rock and Radio exhibit in Cleveland, Ohio. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. [An L.A. native, L.A. Weekly columnist Jeff Weiss edits Passion of the Weiss and hosts the Shots Fired podcast. Broadcast Monitoring by ACRCloud. Telephone: (877) 440-1047. 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. [Update: Art Laboe is coming back to the Inland Empire. 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 and host of the television show "American Bandstand" Dick Clark chat in 1960. 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. He 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 and shocked an older generation still listening to Frank Sinatra and Big Band music. She said plans for a memorial will be announced later. Audience members would attend the shows in person to request songs and dedications. Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. He moved to California, attended Stanford University and served in the Navy during World War II. In doing The Art Laboe Connection on her own, Luna said she is not trying to reinvent or change it. Long before "Now That's What I Call Music!" 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. In his later years, Laboe was dedicated to philanthropic work through his Art Laboe Foundation, which focuses on helping the underprivileged, animal charities and providing scholarship funds for high school students. @laweeklymusic, West Coast Sound's Greatest Hits! UPDATE: Art Laboe has returned to the Inland Empire onOld School 104.7 FM. Add this radio's widget to your website. ``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. 1, which stayed on the Billboards Top 100 chart for 183 weeks. All rights reserved. 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. The station was KSAN 1450 AM. Mark Frosty McNeill, who co-founded the L.A.-based Internet radio station more than 15 years ago, surmises that Laboe is the common, influential link between both Dublab's roster of DJs and many of the locals who tune into their broadcasts. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. Over the years, his shows were heard on stations including KFWB, KXLA, KPOP, KDA, KPPC, KRTH, KRLA and KFI. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. This was a strong way of communication to reach incarcerated loved ones, says McNeil. Listen to top radio stations, news, music, sports, talk, and comedy. Laboe, who was twice divorced, was preceded in death by two sons, three sisters and a brother. I don't think people understand how significant it is as far as communication goes, says Garay. 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. By 1956, Laboe had an afternoon show and became the citys top radio program. The scene that Laboe helped cultivate in California became of the nations most diverse. Out went old-school funk and R&B. 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.. We are bringing that sound back to New Bedford.. Feb. 11, 2015. In recent decades, Laboe was noted for allowing inmates' relatives to send in dedications intended to be heard by their incarcerated loved ones. "Rest In Peace Art . Roe. 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. 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.. 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. Then Art comes out and they just melt. Only 36% of all radio DJs in the country are women. 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. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. By the mid-1950s, he was a staple on Los Angeles radio stations, broadcasting live from Scrivner's Drive-In in Hollywood. Art Laboe, the pioneering DJ who became one of the first to play rhythm and blues and rock-n-roll, also credited with helping end segregation in Southern California, has died. 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 . 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 .