Legendary radio DJ Art Laboe, known for coining the phrase 'oldies but goodies,' passed away at age 97 due to pneumonia on October 7. His impact on radio broadcasting spanned an unprecedented 79-year career, making him one of the longest-serving radio personalities in history.

Born Arthur Egnoian in Salt Lake City during the Great Depression, Laboe's passion for radio began at age eight when he received his first radio set. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II and attending Stanford University, he began his broadcasting career at KSAN in San Francisco, where he adopted the name Art Laboe.

As one of California's pioneering DJs, Laboe was among the first to play R&B and rock-n-roll music on air. In 1958, he founded Original Sound Record, Inc. and released "Oldies But Goodies: Vol. 1," which remained on the Billboard Top 100 chart for 183 weeks.

His innovative call-in request format became particularly meaningful for families of incarcerated individuals in California and Arizona, who used his platform to send dedications to their loved ones. "I don't judge," Laboe told AP in 2018. "I like people."

Laboe continued broadcasting until his final days, producing his last show for "The Art Laboe Connection" just days before his death. The show, broadcast on 93.5 KDAY/Los Angeles, will continue to be produced by his team, ensuring his legacy lives on.

His contributions to radio included securing a rare interview with Elvis Presley during the artist's early Hollywood days, and his distinctive baritone voice became synonymous with the emergence of rock-n-roll in the 1950s.

Related Articles

Previous Articles