“Forgotten Hollywood”- The Passing of Art Laboe…
Manny P. here…
“`The orignal Oldie-But-Goodie, Art Laboe, was a multi-generational broadcasting legend. He gave Latinos a music voice throughout the Southwest of the United States. Art appears in the Guinness World Book of Records for his seventy-nine year career. Personally, he mentored the totality of my career and I am saddened for his loss.
“`Laboe was born in Salt Lake City. Serving during World War II, he transmitted Morse Code to ships in the South Pacific. In 1943, Art was hired at a San Francisco radio station. He traveled to Southern California after the war and continued his broadcasting career. His contemporaries included Alan Freed, Murray The K, Hunter Hancock, Wolfman Jack and Dick Hugg Huggy Boy.
“`Art Laboe coined the phrase, Oldies but Goodies, which led to his successful series of album compilations. Art popularized live radio remotes when broadcasting his program at Scrivner’s Drive-In in Los Angeles. He developed the modern West Coast Urban Oldies format, featuring popular songs and listener dedications from the Southwest Latino community, and elsewhere. His dance and oldies shows at El Monte Legion Stadium united teens of Southern California regardless of race in an often culturally divided city. He personally arranged the deal that kept KRLA 11-10 AM on the air after negotiating with co-owners Bob Hope and Art Linkletter.
ART LABOE RICK NELSON
“`Art owned Original Sound Records and many of his tunes he licensed ended up in popular movies, such as American Graffiti. Laboe received a Star along the Hollywood Walk of Fame at Hollywood and Highland. I was proud to attend this wonderful ceremony in 1981.
“`In 2009, he was honored with Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters/Diamond Circle Award, given to members who have made an important contribution to the development of broadcasting. Art Laboe memorabilia can be seen at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum’s interactive Rock and Radio exhibit in Cleveland. In 2012, Art Laboe was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame and Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.
“`I recently aired an interview I did with my dear friend on my podcast. You are welcome to listen and appreciate the warmth and candor of the great Art Laboe.
https://manny-pachecos-forgotten-hollywood.castos.com/podcasts/38246/episodes/ep-26-an-oldie-but-goodie-081022
“`Art Laboe was ninety-seven. Vaya con Dios dear Arthur…
Until next time> “never forget”
This entry was posted on Monday, October 10th, 2022 at 6:47 pm and is filed under Blog by Manny Pacheco. You can follow any comments to this post through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
You must be logged in to post a comment.