It’s Art Laboe Day Tomorrow!
• The City of El Monte, CA has declared Saturday, March 10, 2018 as “Art Laboe Day,” and will present the legendary broadcaster with a Key to the City — the first person to be recognized with this honor. This special event happens in conjunction with the Grand Opening of the Union Walk, a new home community and home of a “Memories of El Monte” fountain project at the site of the former El Monte American Legion Hall, also known as El Monte Legion Stadium.
In 1955, Laboe began hosting Oldies But Goodies™ “Dance and Show” events at El Monte Legion Stadium. Teenagers from all over the Southland flocked to Laboe’s El Monte events every other weekend for three years to see local artists including The Penguins and Rosie & the Originals, and the rising stars of the day like Ray Charles, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Chuck Berry, Ritchie Valens and Jerry Lee Lewis (pictured here in 1958 with Laboe).
Remembering those days, Laboe said, “It was all about good times! Ever since then, El Monte has held a special place in my heart and I’m grateful to be bestowed with these accolades. Special thanks to the City of El Monte, Councilmember Jerry Velasco for his immense support and Union Walk by Olsen Homes. And although we no longer have the stadium, we have this fountain and our ‘Memories of El Monte.'” [Photo courtesy of the Art Laboe Archives]
