art laboe

A fixture in radio for more than seven decades, Art Laboe started his radio career in 1943 at KSAN/San Francisco. In 1949, he began his lengthy association with Los Angeles radio, hosting an all-night record show from Scrivner’s Drive-In on KXLA (later KRLA).

After a stint at KFWB interviewing celebrities at Ciro’s Restaurant, Laboe returned to Scrivner’s in 1955 for a top-rated afternoon record show on KPOP. Here, he coined the phrase “Oldies But Goodies,” the inspiration for his series of top-selling compilation albums.

In 1972, Laboe joined KRTH/Los Angeles as it became the first full-time “oldies” station. Four years later, he returned to KRLA as a part-owner, on-air personality and program director. Between 1976 and 1981, Laboe led the station from 49th to first place in the ratings and was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

After working at KFI and KRLA during the 1980s, Laboe moved to KGGI in 1991 with Art Laboe’s Sunday Special at KGGI, which is syndicated throughout the western United States.

Laboe also hosts The Art Laboe Connection, a nightly request show on KHHT that is heard nationwide on iHeart Radio.Laboe is a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserve due to his work with the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.

Art Laboe was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2012.