Art Laboe
Art Laboe is name-checked on the cover of "Freak Out!" (1966) under the heading "These People Have Contributed Materially In Many Ways To Make Our Music What It Is. Please Do Not Hold It Against Them". The "Ambassador of Rock & Roll", owner Of Original Sound Records, where FZ recorded the music for "Run Home Slow"; also encouraged FZ to produce struggling groups in the Los Angeles / Lancaster area.
In 1956, "The Art Laboe Show" on KPOP radio was the #1 radio program in the Los Angeles area, holding a 33 share, a record which still stands. Popularized the "oldies but goodies" format in radio. Laboe was the first Disc Jockey to play Rock and Roll on the West Coast airwaves, was one of the first DJs to play both black and white artists and the first DJ to have an "Elvis Hour", the entire hour devoted to Elvis Presley (also name-checked on the cover of "Freak Out!").
Laboe assembled the first album in American history to feature hits by different artists. This first compilation album, entitled "Oldies But Goodies", was released by Art’s company, Original Sound Records, and stayed on Billboard’s Top 100 LP’s chart for over three years! The series has been expanded to 15 volumes. Laboe is also recognized as the first person to coin the term "Oldies But Goodies".
The City of Los Angeles declared July 17, 1981 "Art Laboe Day" as he received his star on Hollywood Boulevard’s "Walk of Fame".
- "Art Laboe's Memories Of El Monte - The Roots Of L.A.'s Rock And Roll" (1991 - (Original Sound OSCD 1960))
- "Art Laboe's Dedicated To You" (1992)
- "Art Laboe's 60 Killer Oldies" (1993)
