L-A Radio: Legendary Art Laboe Keeps Classics Current

Art Laboe

In the pantheon of legendary radio disc jockeys, there are a handful of names that come up: Dick Clark, Casey Kasem, Howard Stern. However, according to the Press-Enterprise in Riverside, CA, if you fine tune the discussion to broadcasters who have been on the radio continuously since 1943, you come down to one name: Art Laboe.

Except for a three-year stint in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Laboe has been a popular voice on the airwaves for six decades.  Currently, some 13 stations in So. Calif air Laboe's Oldies Show.

As one of the first DJs on the West Coast to introduce teenagers to rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s, he coined the term “oldies but goodies” to describe songs that had become hits but were pushed aside to make way for upcoming songs and artists.

Younger Laboe (Undated)

While doing a live request radio show at Scrivner’s Drive-In in Los Angeles, Laboe would compile a list of song requests, which led to the development of the oldies but goodies format on which he based “The Art Laboe Show.”

In the decades since, Laboe has continued to broadcast and branched into putting out compilation records and producing and recording music. For the last 12 years, he has brought his radio show to life at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore.

Laboe, now 89, will take his golden voice to the stage and host performances from Zapp, The Delfonics, Rose Royce, Atlantic Starr, One Way, Sly, Slick & Wicked, MC Magic, Freestyle Evolution, Barbara Lynn and Aalon on Sept. 20.

The ’80s-centric lineup is a reflection of how the oldies but goodies format is changing.

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