Art Laboe, the legendary radio DJ who coined the iconic phrase 'oldies but goodies,' passed away at age 97 from pneumonia on October 7. His final show was broadcast on October 9, marking the end of a remarkable 79-year broadcasting career.

Laboe's most significant contribution to music history came in 1958 when he released "Oldies But Goodies: Vol. 1" through his label, Original Sound Record, Inc. The compilation album achieved extraordinary success, remaining on the Billboard Top 100 chart for over 183 weeks.

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 to play R&B and rock-n-roll music, Laboe became known for his distinctive baritone voice and was among the few DJs to interview Elvis Presley in Hollywood. His call-in request format became particularly meaningful for families of incarcerated people in California and Arizona, who used his platform to send dedications to their loved ones.

The Art Laboe Connection, his nightly request and dedication syndicated radio show, will continue to be produced and broadcast on 93.5 KDAY/Los Angeles, preserving his legacy of connecting people through music.

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