Art Laboe by Steven Lee

Art Laboe, who is 93 and continues to host his syndicated "Art Laboe Sunday Special" requests-and-dedications program, was honored February 1 at a luncheon hosted by Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters at Airtel Plaza in Van Nuys. Rick Dees, Wink Martindale, DJ Romeo, Paul Rodriguez and Shotgun Tom Kelly were among the attendees. Laboe has been in radio since 1943 and has worked at KSAN, KPOP, KCMJ, KGFJ, KFWB, KXLA, KDAY, KPPC, XEPRS, KRTH, KRLA, KFI, KCMG and KHHT. He is credited as being the first DJ to take requests. In 1959, Laboe coined and trademarked the phrase "oldies but goodies," launched the Original Sound record label in Hollywood and began releasing "Oldies But Goodies" compilation albums. Laboe was inducted into the Radio Hall Of Fame in 2012. More details will be in the next issue of DecalcoMania.