Fri 14 Oct 2022 10.19 EDT. The shift disenchanted thousands of listeners. The story also said Dick Hugg better known by listeners as "Huggy Boy" began hosting a call-in . Enter to Win a digital download of A Man Called Otto PLUS a $50 savings pass from 1-800-Flowers! He was known for his "oldies but goodies" catchphrase and decades of work on terrestrial radio. Though Laboe was Armenian American, his work was appreciated by people of a variety of backgrounds. Long before "Now That's What I Call Music!" We want to exude L.A., Wynter says. 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. More stimulating talk and news radio in Los Angeles and Orange County. Leave a dedication to Art Laboe at 323-412-0681. LOS ANGELES -- Art Laboe, the pioneering radio DJ who read heartfelt song dedications to generations of loyal listeners and was credited with helping end segregation in Southern California during an eight-decade broadcast career, has died. 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. 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. UPDATE: Art Laboe has returned to the Inland Empire onOld School 104.7 FM. Art Laboe - Lowrider Original - MotorTrend Former Associated Press reporter Russell Contreras contributed biographical material to this report. With the rise of dance music, Power 106 has gone from where hip-hop lives to where hip-hop sublets. My dad was a party DJ and he was an aspiring on-air DJ," she said. His final show was . After decades on air, Laboes legacy now includes a passing of the torch to Old School Becky Lu. When Art Laboe's near-nightly shows were dumped from 92.3 FMduring a format shift earlier this month, Los Angeles was left without a voice that is part of the fabric of the city. Its been more than a dozen years since a local hip-hop station served as a legitimate talent incubator. 93.5 KDAY - 93.5 KDAY HIP HOP BACK IN THE DAY. He soon became one of the first DJs to play R&B and rock n roll in California. Around 9 a.m. on a Friday in February, the radio station 92.3 FM abruptly switched formats. Listen to thousands of live radio stations or create your own artist stations and playlists. Art Laboe, legendary Southern California DJ, talks about the early days You have permission to edit this article. Both Garay and McNeill emphasize the dedications that serve as messages to people behind bars. 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. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER. "He brought us together. For on-air promo, the Burbank-based 92.3 recruited rappers to hurl subliminal shade at Power 106 as though it wasnt a matter of them wanting to kiss the ring of iHeartRadio, the corporate behemoth formerly known as Clear Channel. His show has been syndicated since 1991. Top 20 Golden Age Hip-Hop Albums And this tough, hard-nosed guy burst into tears.. at 11 a.m. Meruelo Media, the company that owns KDAY, confirmed his death. `Oldies but Goodies': Radio Legend Art Laboe Dies at 97 Getty. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. About R Dub! - slowjams.com His final show was produced last week and broadcast Sunday night. 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.''. Morones said Laboe was aware his audience would welcome "a female voice" and someone who spoke Spanish before inviting Luna to co-host. Later that year, Laboe returned to the Los Angeles airwaves on another station. 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.. 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. News Bites: Art Laboe, ValenTime Machine Playlist, Dick Smothers. In 1981, the Los Angeles City Council declared July 17 Art Laboe Day. His first broadcasts came from Scrivner's Drive-In theater in Hollywood. How the new iHeartRadio-operated station plans to differentiate itself from its direct competition, Emmis-owned Power 106, seems uncertain. When Elvis Presley came to Hollywood, Laboe was one of the few to get an interview with the new rockabilly star. He still takes to the airwaves from a Palm Springs studio six nights a week from 7 p.m. to midnight, hosting The Art Laboe Connection a show broadcast on more than a dozen stations across . Laboe, who was twice divorced, was preceded in death by two sons, three sisters and a brother. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. LOS ANGELES . Top 20 Worst Bands of All Time "In Art Laboe terms, it means give it your all." . iHeartRadio launches the "ValenTime Machine Playlist . Teen listeners soon identified Laboes voice with the fledgling rock n roll scene. Thats more than I can say of Power 106, which has banished classic rap almost entirely to its throwback hour. Oldies Stations | iHeartMedia Stations | iHeartMedia (AP Photo/Russell Contreras, File), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Then Art comes out and they just melt. Longtime radio DJ Art Laboe dies at 97 - Portland Press Herald Art Laboe, Legendary Radio DJ Who Created Oldies but Goodies Format Art Laboe Old School 104.7 - KOCP Market data provided by Factset. 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. ], Like us on Facebook at LAWeeklyMusic Telephone: (877) 440-1047. Its a role Laboe said he felt honored to play. (Michael Ochs Archives). These are some of the biggest Top 40 hits ever played on the radio, VP/programming Bob Walker said in a release. Listeners can also stream his show online and through various apps. It also streams online at oldschool1047.com. KOKO 94.3 Fresno, CA,(a station owned by Art Laboe): . Dublab's Dedicated to Art Laboe project is a chance for fans to call, leave messages and send out songs with a kiss. 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. There's only ONE Art Lebow, and he's only on Jammin' 99.5FM - Coachella Valley's Old School! Art Laboe | Power Player - All Access 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 . Also, listen to Gary Garay's tribute to Art Laboe's Original Sound label on Dublab. 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. 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. "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. Laboe was often tapped by Hollywood as a consultant and music producer. 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. Art Laboe - Hollywood Walk of Fame 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. Laboe soon became one of the first DJs to play R&B and rock n roll in California, which helped him identify with teen listeners. 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. His show was picked up by Old School 104.7. ", "It was the first time he had heard his babys voice," Laboe said. Art had talked about (adding) someone young, with a vivacious personality, she said. And don't miss Art Laboe's Sunday Special, Sundays, 6pm til midnight. 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 . Discover how an iHeartRadio station can deliver connect your message with your audience, live and local, right where you live. Listen for free on iHeart! 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. Listen to Your Favorite Music, Podcasts, and Radio Stations for Free Like us on Facebook at LAWeeklyMusic "Without Art Laboe, Im So Lonely I Could Cry," wrote essayist Adam Vine. Listen to Art Laboe on Jammin' 99.5. Laboe moved his show to 93.5 KDAY after his iHeartRadio-owned home station, Hot 92.3, changed formats in 2015. iHeart: #1 for Radio, Podcasts 12+ - App Store 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. His Art Laboe Connection aired in Los Angeles on KDAY-FM on Sunday nights, as well as many other stations throughout the Southwest. 12 min read. Pioneering DJ Art Laboe dies, aged 97 | DJMag.com 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. Also remembering Laboe on social media was Amoeba Music. All rights reserved. Even by the overheated standards of terrestrial radio, it felt forced. 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.