RHOF Inductee and Legendary Art Laboe Dead at 97

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, October 10, 2022

Art Laboe

Veteran radio broadcaster, host and 2012 RHOF inductee Art Laboe died at his home in Palm Springs, CA, on Friday, October 7. He was 97. Laboe was one of the first air personalities to play Rock 'n Roll on the West Coast, was one of the first to do dedications on the radio and coined and trademarked the phrase "Oldies but Goodies." Up until 2019, Laboe aired on XHRM-FM (Magic 92.5)/San Diego every Sunday from 8-10pm, as well as on over a dozen other radio stations throughout California and the West Coast.

Laboe was a pioneering radio personality who began his broadcasting career in 1943 at KSAN in San Francisco. For decades, Art was at the heart of the West Coast music scene, and worked on stations including KPOP and KRLA. He was one of the first DJs to take live dedications, on location, broadcasting from Scrivner's Drive-In in Los Angeles. Laboe invented the phrase "oldies but goodies," and was among the first to license material from several labels for successful "oldies" albums that would sell millions.

In addition to hosting the syndication "Art Laboe Connection," he worked as a concert promoter, helping bring many forgotten artists back into the spotlight. The City of Los Angeles declared July 17, 1981, to be "Art Laboe Day," when he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In memory of Laboe's 75-year radio career, Benztown produced an Audio Tribute, voiced and produced by Royce Stevenson.