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Art Laboe, a Longtime ‘oldies but Goodies’ Radio Dj, Died at the Age of 97!

L.A. Art Laboe, a pioneering radio DJ who delivered song dedications to decades of faithful fans, has died. 97-year-old

Laboe died Friday night in Palm Springs after acquiring pneumonia, said Dart Entertainment’s, Joanna Morones. His farewell show aired Sunday. Laboe is credited with helping abolish segregation in Southern California by staging live DJ events at drive-in cafes that attracted white, Black, and Latino listeners who danced to rock ‘n’ roll.

The DJ coined “oldies, but goodies.” In 1957, he founded Original Sound Record, Inc. In 1958, he issued “Oldies But Goodies: Vol. 1,” which stayed on the Billboard Top 100 for 183 weeks.


Longtime Radio ‘Oldies but Goodies’ Art Laboe, 97, DJ 11 Oct 2022 (AP) Art Laboe photo Art Laboe in 2018 (AP file photo)

Facebook. L.A. Art Laboe, a pioneering radio DJ who delivered song dedications to decades of faithful fans, has died. 97-year-old

Laboe died Friday night in Palm Springs after acquiring pneumonia, said Dart Entertainment’s, Joanna Morones.

His farewell show aired Sunday. Laboe is credited with ending segregation in Southern California by staging live DJ events at drive-in cafes. White, Black, and Latino listeners danced to rock ‘n’ roll, shocking an older generation still listening to Frank Sinatra and Big Band music.

DJ also coined “oldies but goodies.” In 1957, he created Original Sound Record, Inc. In 1958, he issued “Oldies But Goodies: Vol. 1,” which lasted on the Billboard Top 100 for 183 weeks.

He later became popular among Mexican Americans by hosting “The Art Laboe Connection Show.” His baritone voice inspired callers to dedicate songs and request ’50s rock ‘n’ roll love ballads or Alicia Keys’ rhythm and blues.

Alcaraz: “He gave the lowliest of us a voice through music.” “He united us. We sought him out.”

Alex Nogales, president and CEO of the National Hispanic Media Coalition in Los Angeles, said generations of Latinos attended Laboe-sponsored concerts to hear Smokey Robinson, The Spinners, and Sunny & The Sunliners.

“I notice some tough-looking men. Scary, “Nogales, “Art melts them. He’s popular.”

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