Longtime oldies DJ Art Laboe dies at 97

LOS ANGELES — Pioneering DJ Art Laboe, who has been credited with ending segregation in southern California, has died at the age of 97.

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Joanna Morones, a spokesperson with Laboe’s production company, Dart Entertainment, told The Associated Press that Laboe died on Friday. Laboe had caught pneumonia.

According to the AP, his last show was produced last week and it aired Sunday night.

Laboe, born Arthur Egnoian, was from Salt Lake City, Utah. He grew up there during the Great Depression with his Armenian-American family, according to the AP.

Laboe served in World War II. Soon after, he changed his named from Egnoian to Laboe, according to the AP.

Laboe has been credited with helping to end segregation in southern California, according to the AP. He helped organized live DJ shows that brought young people of all backgrounds together for some rock ‘n’ roll.

Laboe brought people of all ages together for decades by airing goodnight dedications on his syndicated “Art Laboe Connection Show” that he had been able to host through his 90s, according to the AP.

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