Art Laboe, Pioneering Music Radio DJ Who Coined ‘Oldies but Goodies,’ Dies at 97
posted to his official account, reporting that the music veteran died Friday night at his home in Palm Springs after catching pneumonia.“Condolences to Art’s legions of fans, family, friends, and colleagues,” the post reads.“ September 2022, marked 79 years as a radio performer marking the longest continuous period of broadcasting service.”The AP describes Laboe’s efforts at aiding the end to segregation through organizing live DJ shows at drive-in venues attended by Black, Latino and white listeners who danced to rock-n-roll.“Art Laboe’s legacy will endure as his team will continue to produce his current nightly request and dedication syndicated radio show, The Art Laboe Connection, which is heard on 93.5 KDAY/Los Angeles Sundays from 6pm-midnight, and weeknights from 9pm-midnight on KOCP/Oxnard, KQIE/Riverside-San Bernardino, KMRJ/Palm Springs, and many stations throughout the Southwest,” the statement continued.In 1957, Laboe started Original Sound Record, Inc., and in 1958 he released “Oldies But Goodies Vol. 1,” a compilation album that remained on Billboard’s Top 100 chart for 183 weeks.His hosting of the syndicated “The Art Laboe Connection Show” attracted a strong Mexican-American following.