ART LABOE,
1925-2022
Art Laboe, the legendary Los Angeles DJ who added “Oldies but Goodies” to America’s lexicon, died Friday (10/7) after a short case of pneumonia in Palm Springs. He was 97.
One of the first DJs to play rock & roll and R&B on the West Coast, he was still active in radio as host of a Sunday night program on KDAY-FM. Laboe, famous for talking to listeners on air and doing dedications, recently celebrated his 79-year anniversary as a radio host.
After growing up in L.A., LaBoe got his start at San Francisco’s KSAN in 1943. He moved to L.A.’s KXLA-AM in 1950 after a stint in the Navy.
As Laboe introduced audiences to the music of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and doo-wop, he ventured into live events and TV, hosting dances at the El Monte Legion Stadium, co-producing a rock concert at The Hollywood Bowl and broadcasting his radio show from Scrivner’s Drive-In in Hollywood on KTLA-TV.
Laboe’s shows attracted white, Black and Latino listeners to the dances at drive-ins, an early step in ending L.A.’s segregation.
Beginning in 1959, his label Original Sound Entertainment started releasing Oldies But Goodies compilations that were among the first LP collections featuring songs licensed from multiple sources. Vol. 1 stayed on the album charts for nearly four years as the compilations extended the lives of the music of The Shirelles, The Penguins and other early rock & roll acts.
Laboe also worked in film in the ‘70s and ‘80s, licensing songs for American Graffiti, Dirty Dancing, Good Morning Vietnam and other films.
A memorial service will be announced later.
It is with deep sadness we report the passing of legend Art Laboe, he was 97. He died peacefully at his home in Palm Springs, CA on Friday night, October 7, 2022 after a short case of pneumonia.
— Art Laboe (@ArtLaboe) October 10, 2022
Condolences to Art’s legions of fans, family, friends, and colleagues. pic.twitter.com/RN6UR3ONpk
