", It was the first time he had heard his babys voice, Laboe told The Associated Press in 2019. Roger Campos (DJ, Funkmosphere) My favorite memory of Art Laboe was sometime . The ValenTimeMachine.com microsite debuted Monday, Feb. 11 and will take listeners as far back as 1970. 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. They love him.". The show is aired on stations throughout the Southwest. 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! 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. It wouldnt hurt to follow the model of its ancestor, 92.3 The Beat, which featured Eazy-Es Ruthless Radio Hour.. 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. 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. Roe. Anthony Macias, a University of California, Riverside ethnic studies professor, said the music that Laboe played went with the dedications enhancing the messages. The voices and stories that came from it enveloped him. Laboe died Friday at his home in Palm Springs, following a bout with . All your favorite music, podcasts, and radio stations available for free. KDAY is the 1st Hip-Hop station in the nation! Plus, online streams allow folks from across the globe to tune in to the show. 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. 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. 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. As a listener, you want to identify with someone and you want to hear them get excited about things that you get excited about.". Former Associated Press reporter Russell Contreras contributed biographical material to this report. 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. He is just embraced and beloved by the creative community, says McNeil. 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. Laboe started his radio career in San Francisco, where he changed his name to sound more American. Now it's Laboe's turn to be on the receiving end of the dedications. The story also said Dick Hugg better known by listeners as "Huggy Boy" began hosting a call-in . Laboe was presented with the honor by R Dub, XETRA Communicaciones rhythmic AC Magic 925 XHRM San Diego director of programming. 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. Art Laboe, a radio DJ whose career ran for 79 years, died Friday at his Palm Springs home of pneumonia. Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. "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. 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! Those stick even after fans leave town. 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 known for his "oldies but goodies" catchphrase and decades of work on terrestrial radio. Everybody knew him at the grocery store. Cars jammed Sunset Boulevard where Laboe broadcast his show, and advertisers jumped to get a piece of the action. A permanent display of Laboes contributions resides in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland. Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. WILLIAM SHATNER REFLECTS ON FALLOUT WITH 'STAR TREK' PAL LEONARD NIMOY, HISTORIC KISS WITH NICHELLE NICHOLS. Leave a dedication to Art Laboe at 323-412-0681. Though the stations playlist has mostly not yet reflected it, Wynter envisions Real 92.3 as a more purist alternative. 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. LOS ANGELES . 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. Right now, this veteran of the airwaves is getting support from the web-streaming DJs who were influenced by him. Oh my gosh, Luna gushed. 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. To have Luna at the helm of The Art Laboe Connection, Boudreaux said, points to the importance of having women's voices on air. "From there, my love for music really grew, because it's always been a part of me. Download the iHeartRadio iOS app today and enjoy your favorite music, live & local radio stations, playlists, and podcasts! Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. 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.. IE 11 is not supported. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The Art Laboe Show. Without Art Laboe, Im So Lonely I Could Cry, wrote essayist Adam Vine. 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. He was 97. Legendary Art Laboe hosts "Love Zone," Weekday evenings from 9PM until 12midnight. Morones said the show "didn't put up a flagpole" to announce Luna's transition to sole host to make it smoother. In 1981, the Los Angeles City Council declared July 17 Art Laboe Day. "To be on the radio in those early 1950s days, Art had to pay the station. The 20 Sexiest Songs of All Time. Art Laboe died Friday at the age of 97. 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. Joanna Morones, who went to work for Laboe as his executive assistant in 1995 . @laweeklymusic, West Coast Sound's Greatest Hits! BACK TO THE FUTURE STARS CHRISTOPHER LLOYD AND MICHAEL J. His second passion is travel: he's currently on a mission to see all 193 countries on the planet. 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. 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. While those with an Internet connection can tune in via stations like Fresno's KOKO 94.3, the absence Art Laboe Connection from the local, terrestrial market is still a loss felt far beyond the soul hits and disco jams that made evening traffic slightly more bearable. Through investigation, the FCC says they determined Nancy Graham was the operator. 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. It's the first time in KCRW history, actually, where it's majority women and it feels like there's a bubble bursting.. Laboe made his radio debut in 1943, during World War II, on KSAN in . Top 20 Golden Age Hip-Hop Albums LAWeekly Instagram: Featuring the culture of LA since 1978 , Relationship with the Victim* The station has a connection to Laboe, too. Discover how an iHeartRadio station can deliver connect your message with your audience, live and local, right where you live. "Then Art comes out and they just melt. "I see these really tough-looking guys in the crowd. Episode #5. His final show was . Laboe later returned to the Los Angeles airwaves on another station. [Update: Art Laboe is coming back to the Inland Empire. ", "It was the first time he had heard his babys voice," Laboe said. When asked what new L.A. rappers he was checking for, Wynter singled out The Game and Problem both longtime staples on Power 106. These are some of the biggest Top 40 hits ever played on the radio, VP/programming Bob Walker said in a release. Morones said the production company is preparing to sell new Laboe merchandise to keep his memory alive. "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. (Pictured: Art Laboe at the 2008 Hollywood Christmas Parade). This dedication goes out to Art Laboe from your LA radio fans, thank you for the memories. Laboe also didnt appear to judge his listeners who asked for dedications for loved ones in prison, Alcaraz said. He doesn't rush them off the air. Recently Played. 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. One of the sayings he had for himself was 'Don't walk through it.' 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. What turned out to be his final broadcast aired Sunday night, after being recorded last week. 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. 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. His label later found success, in 1959, with the hits "Bongo Rock" by Preston Epps and "Teen Beat"by Sandy Nelson. Super Freaky Girl Nicki Minaj Super Freaky Girl 2:23 AM. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Only 36% of all radio DJs in the country are women. 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. Legal Statement. 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. Luna's takeover of the historic show is not only significant because she is a person of color, but also due to the rarity of women DJs on the radio in the United States. Fri 14 Oct 2022 10.19 EDT. Laboe is said to have landed the first radio interview with Elvis Presley during his first trip to Hollywood. One of the anecdotes about the dedications he told centered on a woman who went to the studio to allow her toddler to tell her incarcerated father, "Daddy, I love you. 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. 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 . The scene that Laboe helped cultivate in California became of the nations most diverse. LOS ANGELES, June 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- 93.5 KDAY-FM radio, SoCal's home of original hip-hop and R&B and the leading media brand under Meruelo Media, proudly welcomes and announces LA's Iconic . By the mid-1950s, he was a staple on Los Angeles radio stations, broadcasting live from Scrivner's Drive-In in Hollywood. Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers. Audience members would attend the shows in person to request songs and dedications. "I dont judge," Laboe said in a 2018 interview with the Associated Press at his Palm Springs studio in California. Art Laboe is nothing short of a living legend, Dub said in a release. 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. She said plans for a memorial will be announced later. See All Recently Played. 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.. Yes, Scream VI Marketing Is Behind the Creepy Ghostface Sightings Causing Scares Across the U.S. David Oyelowo, Taylor Sheridan's 'Bass Reeves' Series at Paramount+ Casts King Richard Star Demi Singleton (EXCLUSIVE), Star Trek: Discovery to End With Season 5, Paramount+ Pushes Premiere to 2024. Catch up on the developing stories making headlines. 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.. Laboe also worked behind the scenes to promote concerts and produce records on his own label, Original Sound. I don't think people understand how significant it is as far as communication goes, says Garay. Listen to thousands of live radio stations or create your own artist stations and playlists. 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. I see these really tough looking guys in the crowd. Then Art comes out and they just melt. On Location: February 24, 2023. His show was picked up by Old School 104.7. So far, the response has been interesting. Website: oldschool1047.com. And it wouldnt hurt to bring back Art Laboe, either. 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. There's only ONE Art Lebow, and he's only on Jammin' 99.5FM - Coachella Valley's Old School! 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. Oct 11, 2022. 3:18. Laboe moved his show to 93.5 KDAY after his iHeartRadio-owned home station, Hot 92.3, changed formats in 2015. In recent decades, Laboe was noted for allowing inmates' relatives to send in dedications intended to be heard by their incarcerated loved ones. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The Art Laboe Love Zone Monday-Thursday, 9:00pm-12mid Sundays, 6:00pm-12mid. The voices and stories that came from it enveloped him. Top 40 radio in the 70s, 80s and 90s was big and exciting. Both stations are managed by NIA Broadcasting. McNeill noticed that not all of the callers are current L.A. residents. 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. On Tuesday, flowers will be placed on Laboe's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.