He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2012. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. KABG Big 98.5 Albuquerque: . 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. The scene that Laboe helped cultivate in California became of the nations most diverse. 10/10/2022 3:49 PM PT. Morones said Laboe was aware his audience would welcome "a female voice" and someone who spoke Spanish before inviting Luna to co-host. 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 voices and stories that came from it enveloped him. The show is aired on stations throughout the Southwest. 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. (It) helped me grieve and accept it a little more easily, Morones said. February 15, 2023 at 8:55 am. Becky Lu was a natural fit. One of the first DJs to play Black music in California, Laboe helped introduce Latinos to R&B, rock 'n' roll and soul oldies. (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. His second passion is travel: he's currently on a mission to see all 193 countries on the planet. Right now, were starting off with records that people are familiar with, but we have to break local records over time.. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Joanna Morones, who went to work for Laboe as his executive assistant in 1995 . When folks call in to his radio show, he listens to them. Plus 100,000 AM/FM radio stations featuring music, news, and local sports talk. 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. More stimulating talk and news radio in Los Angeles and Orange County. 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. Laboe's show focuses on unlocking listeners' memories, but he's helping people create them, too. 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. Listen online or download the iHeart App. I dont judge, Laboe said in a 2018 interview with The Associated Press at his Palm Springs studio. When asked what new L.A. rappers he was checking for, Wynter singled out The Game and Problem both longtime staples on Power 106. Being Mexican American myself we were always at these huge family gatherings and like, big barbeques and different birthdays and celebrations. Address: 242 East Airport Drive Suite 202 San Bernardino, CA 92408. Find him online at passionweiss.com, follow him on Twitter and also check out his archives.]. 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.. and can be heard Sunday-Friday nights 7pm-12am on HOT 92.3 KHHT Los Angeles CA and nationwide on iHeartRadio.com and parts of the show also air on several other stations in the Southwest including Magic 92.5 . . 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. The voices and stories that came from it enveloped him. Art passed away at the age of 97, after catching pneumonia. (JC Olivera) In 1957, he started Original Sound Record Inc . KOST 103.5 FM - Your Feel Good Station and Home of the Ellen K Morning Show. Like a lot of folks in Southern California, the team at Dublab are big fans of Laboe. With the rise of dance music, Power 106 has gone from where hip-hop lives to where hip-hop sublets. 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. 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. 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. California and Arizona inmates would send in their own dedications and ask Laboe for updates from family. We are sending our love, today, to the family of beloved SoCal radio host Art Laboe. Fri 14 Oct 2022 10.19 EDT. He was DJ'ing right up until then. 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. They love him.". PALM SPRINGS, Calif. Art Laboe, the pioneering radio DJ credited with helping end segregation in Southern California, has died. You have permission to edit this article. Listen to Art Laboe on Jammin' 99.5. He was born Arthur Egnoian to an American-Armenian family in Salt Lake City. 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. Discover thousands of live and local AM and FM radio stations near you and from cities all over the world. Enter to Win a digital download of A Man Called Otto PLUS a $50 savings pass from 1-800-Flowers! Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. I think he realized the real positive impact he was having on families who were separated through incarceration, says McNeill. ", Art Laboe hosted an annual Art Laboe Valentine's Super Love Jam concert for his radio fans. 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. Morones said the production company is preparing to sell new Laboe merchandise to keep his memory alive. [Update: Art Laboe is coming back to the Inland Empire. After decades on air, Laboes legacy now includes a passing of the torch to Old School Becky Lu. Art Laboe and rock n roll musician Chuck Berry pose for a portrait in circa 1975. 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. People appreciate it, Luna said. By 1956, Laboe had an afternoon show and became the citys top radio program. In doing The Art Laboe Connection on her own, Luna said she is not trying to reinvent or change it. He later moved to California to attend Stanford. He was 97. His final show was . 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. ], Like us on Facebook at LAWeeklyMusic 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. 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. 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 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. All rights reserved. Laboe, who was twice divorced, was preceded in death by two sons, three sisters and a brother. 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! iHeart. Born Arthur Egnoian in Salt Lake City to a Mormon Armenian-American family, Laboe grew up during the Great Depression in a household run by a single mom. "Rest In Peace Art . Now, Dublab has opened up the format to include contributions from Laboe's audience at large. 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%). It also streams online at oldschool1047.com. Our Radio App allows you to listen to top radio stations, news, sports, music, talk and comedy. 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. He remembers when dedications came from local listeners, then included callers from other states. Former Associated Press reporter Russell Contreras contributed biographical material to this report. This was a strong way of communication to reach incarcerated loved ones, says McNeil. That's the . Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Long before "Now That's What I Call Music!" Laboe made his radio debut in 1943, during World War II, on KSAN in . Luna had some knowledge of the work since she'd taken broadcasting classes at College of the Desert. Laboe, who hosted a show on Los Angeles radio station KDAY, died Friday of pneumonia, according to a statement on his Facebook page. The Envelope Please The team at Magic 92.5 have been working on Laboe's award presentation since last year. Laboe also didnt appear to judge listeners who asked for dedications for loved ones in prison, Alcaraz said. We can say this is a local show, she added. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Photo: Getty Images. Oct. 11, 2022 2:10 PM PT. (Pictured: Art Laboe at the 2008 Hollywood Christmas Parade). It's the first time in KCRW history, actually, where it's majority women and it feels like there's a bubble bursting.. iHeartMedia America's #1 Audio Company Reaching 9 out of 10 Americans every month. With more than 860 live broadcast stations in 153 markets across America, there's a local iHeartRadio station virtually everywhere. His work was syndicated well beyond California and thorughout the Southwest. Laboe started his radio career in San Francisco, where he changed his name to sound more American. "Without Art Laboe, Im So Lonely I Could Cry," wrote essayist Adam Vine. "He brought us together. Download the iHeartRadio iOS app today and enjoy your favorite music, live & local radio stations, playlists, and podcasts! A permanent display of Laboes contributions resides in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland. In came The Real 92.3, offering 10,000 joints in a row of "real hip . Laboe and Luna shared an eclectic taste in music, overlapping on some favorite genres including doo-wop and rock. Catch up on the developing stories making headlines. 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. Morones said the show "didn't put up a flagpole" to announce Luna's transition to sole host to make it smoother. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Listen to thousands of live radio stations or create your own artist stations and playlists. 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. Laboe also didnt appear to judge his listeners who asked for dedications for loved ones in prison, Alcaraz said. 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 . Join Art as he takes your requests, Live, Monday through Friday. When folks call in to his radio show, he listens to them. They're also getting contributions from former locals who have since moved to various parts of the country. Around 9 a.m. on a Friday in February, the radio station 92.3 FM abruptly switched formats. The Art Laboe Connection. George Lucas worked with Laboe on licensing tunes for the soundtrack of his 1973 smash American Graffiti, and Laboe was proud of ensuring that the artists got their due and their cut of licensing revenue. Laboe is credited with helping end segregation in Southern California by organizing live shows at drive-ins that attracted crowds of all races. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. SpouseParentChildSiblingFamily memberOther, Sweet James has my permission to help provide a free police report, Art Laboe (seated, on the right) with DJs Bill Barlett and Paul Scrivner; Credit: Courtesy of Art Laboe (Artlaboe.com) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons, Ciel Spa aka @CielSpaBH located the SLS Hotel i, Welcoming over 100,000 people every year, what beg, The holiday season is a time of giving! His final show was produced last week and broadcast Sunday night. Laboe died Friday night at home in Palm Springs, California, after catching pneumonia, said Joanna Morones, a spokesperson for Laboe's production company, Dart Entertainment. . or redistributed. Audience members would attend the shows in person to request songs and dedications. Laboe, who was twice divorced, was preceded in death by two sons, three sisters and a brother. In Art Laboe terms, it means give it your all., As they grew familiar with each other, Luna said she and Laboe became close colleagues, and eventually friends. The rules are clear. Laboe moved his show to 93.5 KDAY after his iHeartRadio-owned home station, Hot 92.3, changed formats in 2015. He was 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 . 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. He later began hosting wildly popular dance shows in El Monte. Art Laboe and host of the television show "American Bandstand" Dick Clark chat in 1960. Artist Radio gives you the power to create custom stations from your favorite songs, albums or musical artists. We want to exude L.A., Wynter says. Listen for free on iHeart! Laboe was an inductee into the National Radio Hall of Fame. KXEW Radio Tejano 1600 AM: Sunday 6 p.m. to midnight, also heard nationwide on iHeartRadio. 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.". Through his Original Sound Entertainment, he released Oldies But Goodies and Dedicated to You collections that helped preserve a host of West Coast one-hit wonders such as Angel Baby by Rosie and the Originals and the original Earth Angel by the Penguins. 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. 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. Just last month, Laboe, who was born Aug. 7, 1925, celebrated his 79-year anniversary as an active radio personality. The fact that the show is being continued with the voice of a Latina feels huge because that's a lot of our audience.. Top Songs. Meruelo Media, the company that owns KDAY, confirmed his death. 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. Art had talked about (adding) someone young, with a vivacious personality, she 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. We are bringing that sound back to New Bedford.. I mean, they look scary," Nogales said. So was my mom! Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Art Laboe and host of the television show "American Bandstand" Dick Clark chat in 1960. 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. Its warned her to power down the station or face fines and other penalties. All Rights Reserved. Congratulations banners still hang on the walls, from when the show celebrated one of Laboe's many anniversaries of being on the radio. 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.". He's been facilitating these dedications for decades, says McNeill, and we thought it was fitting to now dedicate songs to him., Leave a dedication to Art Laboe at 323-412-0681.