Feb. 11, 2015. 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. So was my mom! Pirate radio may be most common on the East Coast, but the problem isnt isolated there. Morones said Laboe was aware his audience would welcome "a female voice" and someone who spoke Spanish before inviting Luna to co-host. Joanna Morones, who went to work for Laboe as his executive assistant in 1995 . Laboe died Friday night at home in Palm Springs, California, after catching pneumonia, said Joanna Morones, a spokesperson for Laboes production company, Dart Entertainment. "And this tough, hard-nosed guy burst into tears.". 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 . However, it dawned on her during a DJ meeting at her station that consisted of solely women. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers. News Bites: Art Laboe, ValenTime Machine Playlist, Dick Smothers. 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. When Elvis Presley came to Hollywood, Laboe was one of the few to get an interview with the new rockabilly star. And I havent let go since, Laboe said. When COVID hit in 2020, she became Laboe's co-host to lessen some of the challenges of remote production. He's been credited with helping end segregation in Southern California by organizing live DJ shows at drive-in eateries, which invited white, Black and Latino people to dance to rock-n-roll during the '50s, when the older generation was mostly listening to Frank Sinatra and Big Band music. "He brought us together. Live from Los Angeles 24/7. With more than 860 live broadcast stations in 153 markets across America, there's a local iHeartRadio station virtually everywhere. "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. His sister sent him his first radio when he was 8 years old. The Best Live, Local Radio Stations. He brought us together. or redistributed. 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. Smothers filled the daypart most recently occupied by Bubba The Love Sponge, who is now on sports sister WHBO (1040). Laboe started his radio career in San Francisco, where he changed his name to sound more American. Through investigation, the FCC says they determined Nancy Graham was the operator. Laboe also didnt appear to judge his listeners who asked for dedications for loved ones in prison, Alcaraz said. His final show was . They love him.. 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 doing The Art Laboe Connection on her own, Luna said she is not trying to reinvent or change it. KABG Big 98.5 Albuquerque: . 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. "I see these really tough-looking guys in the crowd. Plus, online streams allow folks from across the globe to tune in to the show. 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. They're also getting contributions from former locals who have since moved to various parts of the country. But if Real 92.3 wants to creatively thrive rather than play Pepsi to Powers Coca-Cola, it must nurture local talent and break records from rising stars that have yet to hit Top 40. She said she is eager to see where Old School Becky Lu takes the show. In 2015, the nonprofit online radio station DubLab turned the tables on Mr. Laboe, the man who was a conduit for so many on-air dedications, giving his fans an opportunity to call in and dedicate . All rights reserved. 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. All your favorite music, podcasts, and radio stations available for free. 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 . We are bringing that sound back to New Bedford.. 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. Its a role Laboe said he felt honored to play. "From there, my love for music really grew, because it's always been a part of me. It happened late last year after a bout of pneumonia. Although our competitor purported to be one, theyre more of a rhythmic station that plays some hip-hop.. "I dont judge," Laboe said in a 2018 interview with the Associated Press at his Palm Springs studio in California. 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. The final show from Laboe, who is credited with coining the phrase "oldies but goodies," was broadcast Sunday. Legal Statement. Everybody knew him at the grocery store. Listeners can also stream his show online and through various apps. The scene that Laboe helped cultivate in California became of the nations most diverse. With the rise of dance music, Power 106 has gone from where hip-hop lives to where hip-hop sublets. "I got my own built-in research," Laboe said. This story was updated on October 11, 2022 to correct that Laboe did not coin the phrase oldies, but goodies but popularized it. Becoming Riff Raff: How a White Suburban Kid Morphed Into Today's Most Enigmatic Rapper. Both stations are managed by NIA Broadcasting. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. His label later found success, in 1959, with the hits "Bongo Rock" by Preston Epps and "Teen Beat"by Sandy Nelson. Art was very personable, so he would talk with people and just get to know them for a little bit, before we went on our way, she remembered. Thats why we sought him out.. My favorite place to be is behind that microphone, Laboe said at the time of the 79-year anniversary in September. 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When folks call in to his radio show, he listens to them. Super Freaky Girl Nicki Minaj Super Freaky Girl 2:23 AM. Luna had some knowledge of the work since she'd taken broadcasting classes at College of the Desert. 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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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. Over the years, his shows were heard on stations including KFWB, KXLA, KPOP, KDA, KPPC, KRTH, KRLA and KFI. 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 had talked about (adding) someone young, with a vivacious personality, she said. Over the years, his shows were heard on stations including KFWB, KXLA, KPOP, KDA, KPPC, KRTH, KRLA and KFI. 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 . Laboe died Friday night after catching pneumonia . LOS ANGELES -- Art Laboe, the pioneering radio DJ who read heartfelt song dedications to generations of . More stimulating talk and news radio in Los Angeles and Orange County. 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. By the mid-1950s, he was a staple on Los Angeles radio stations, broadcasting live from Scrivner's Drive-In in Hollywood. Art Laboe and rock n roll musician Chuck Berry pose for a portrait in circa 1975. We are sending our love, today, to the family of beloved SoCal radio host Art Laboe. He was 97. Email: marissa.garcia@pointbroadcastingllc.com. Dublab's Dedicated to Art Laboe project is a chance for fans to call, leave messages and send out songs with a kiss. Here is someone who gave a voice to the most humble of us all through music, Alcaraz said. Oct. 11, 2022 2:10 PM PT. Laboe and Luna shared an eclectic taste in music, overlapping on some favorite genres including doo-wop and rock. LAWeekly Instagram: Featuring the culture of LA since 1978 , Relationship with the Victim* Art Laboe and host of the television show "American Bandstand" Dick Clark chat in 1960. Art Laboe hosted an annual Art Laboe Valentine's Super Love Jam concert for his radio fans. The famous disc jockey who's widely credited with . 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. KDAY is the 1st Hip-Hop station in the nation! Laboe moved his show to 93.5 KDAY after his iHeartRadio-owned home station, Hot 92.3, changed formats in 2015. She also became a radio co-host for the college's "Wired Live at 5" and "Rock-a-Holics.". (Michael Ochs Archives). Art passed away at the age of 97, after catching pneumonia. My dad was a party DJ and he was an aspiring on-air DJ," she said. Some listeners simply treasure memories with music. Legal Statement. "Rest In Peace Art . He later returned to the Southern California area, but a radio station owner told the aspiring announcer he should work on becoming a radio personality instead. Fri 14 Oct 2022 10.19 EDT. I mean, they look scary, Nogales said. 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. Thats more than I can say of Power 106, which has banished classic rap almost entirely to its throwback hour. 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. Both Garay and McNeill emphasize the dedications that serve as messages to people behind bars. By 1956, Laboe had an afternoon show and became the citys top radio program. 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. 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. Its a role Laboe said he felt honored to play. This is partially true. See All Recently Played. Get the latest music and trending news, from your favorite artists and bands. Getty. Art Laboe memorabilia can be seen at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum's interactive Rock and Radio exhibit in Cleveland, Ohio. Episode #5. 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. And this tough, hard-nosed guy burst into tears.. Imagine succeeding someone who'd been at his job for 79 years. Data from the job posting website Zippia.com shows most DJs in the country are white (72%), trailed by Hispanic or Latino (14%), Black or African American (8%) and Asian (3%). Meruelo Media, the company that owns KDAY, confirmed his death. 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. Pioneering disc jockey, songwriter and record producer Art Laboecoined the term, Oldies but goodies and taught many of us in LA that Sundays are for oldies.. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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 . Our Radio App allows you to listen to top radio stations, news, sports, music, talk and comedy. That's the . 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. While the show records in the valley and is a recognized SoCal staple, it airs on 14 radio stations across California and Arizona. 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. 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. "We're so happy he's a part of the Magic 92.5 family and we were incredibly proud to present him with the station's very first Lifetime . It also streams online at oldschool1047.com. 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. I was born in Indio JFK (Memorial Hospital). LAWeekly Instagram: Featuring the culture of LA since 1978 , Relationship with the Victim* Art Laboe, a pioneering US DJ credited with coining the phrase "oldies, but goodies", has died, aged 97. . Top 20 Golden Age Hip-Hop Albums "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. The voices and stories that came from it enveloped him. WiLD 94.9 Music. 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! Catch up on the developing stories making headlines. Laboe attended high school in Los Angeles, then broke into the airwaves in San Francisco on radio station KSAN in September 1943. 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. 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'. Thats why we sought him out.". Legendary Art Laboe hosts "Love Zone," Weekday evenings from 9PM until 12midnight. More recently, Laboe presented broadcasts via iHeartRadio-owned station Hot 92.3, but he moved on to 93.5 KDAY after the format switched up its programming in 2015. 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. iHeartRadio launches the ValenTime Machine Playlist, which lets listeners enter their anniversary date to find a playlist of the most popular love songs from their anniversary year. @laweeklymusic, The 20 Best Hip-Hop Songs in History 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 . Laboe's show focuses on unlocking listeners' memories, but he's helping people create them, too. In 1981, the Los Angeles City Council declared July 17 Art Laboe Day. We are sending our love, today, to the family of beloved SoCal radio host Art Laboe. "Without Art Laboe, Im So Lonely I Could Cry," wrote essayist Adam Vine. ``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. 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. "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. His syndicated radio show, "The Art Laboe Connection," still plays on stations in Los Angeles, Oxnard, Riverside and Palm Springs. [Update: Art Laboe is coming back to the Inland Empire . Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. The scene that Laboe helped cultivate in California became of the nations most diverse. He was predeceased by two sons, three sisters and one brother. Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. The station has a connection to Laboe, too. Then Art comes out and they just melt. February 15, 2023 at 8:55 am. You have permission to edit this article. Morones said the production company is preparing to sell new Laboe merchandise to keep his memory alive. Listen to Art Laboe on Jammin' 99.5. He later received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Former Associated Press reporter Russell Contreras contributed biographical material to this report. (Dublab even has a tutorial from Laboe on how to mimic his signature radio kisses.). Roger Campos (DJ, Funkmosphere) My favorite memory of Art Laboe was sometime . Also, listen to Gary Garay's tribute to Art Laboe's Original Sound label on Dublab. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, WILLIAM SHATNER REFLECTS ON FALLOUT WITH 'STAR TREK' PAL LEONARD NIMOY, HISTORIC KISS WITH NICHELLE NICHOLS. Like us on Facebook at LAWeeklyMusic iHeartRadio lets you access the world of music and radio in one simple platform. 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. "I like people. The rules are clear. His second passion is travel: he's currently on a mission to see all 193 countries on the planet. 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. The next song played wont be shark repellent; its going to be consistent with your expectations.. Over the years, people have come to trust Art, and he's earned their trust, and that's why he's so central to so many people's lives.". When she started at the show, Luna recalls feeling a bit intimidated but mostly eager to learn. Morones said the show "didn't put up a flagpole" to announce Luna's transition to sole host to make it smoother. 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.. 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. In recent decades, Laboe was noted for allowing inmates' relatives to send in dedications intended to be heard by their incarcerated loved ones.