So you may have heard that term or saying "Memories of El Monte"...but do you know the meaning of it?

Well it all started in the 1957 when Art Laboe started hosting oldies concerts at El Monte Legion Stadium. The term was memorialized in the song "Memories of El Monte” which the Penguins made famous. What was so different about these concerts were the fact that all races and ethnic backgrounds were invited to share in enjoying these events. Art made it a place where Chicanos, African Americans, Caucasians and everyone in between could go without the fear of discrimination or persecution.

This did not set well with the LAPD which were known to be very prejudice at the time. It was known throughout Los Angeles County that dances where people under 18 congregated would often be sanctioned by the Los Angeles Board of Education. In that sense then, El Monte proved to be the perfect spot since it was out of L.A. but close enough in driving distance for people to come.

Sadly though, it did not stop the police from finding ways to beat and arrest young Chicano men and African American men for dancing with White girls. That was a sad reality of that time. Art Laboe saw that there needed to be a change and that’s why he started his concerts without rules of who could and couldn’t attend because everyone was accepted. The only rule was you had to have a good time.

Art Laboe, a legend in the radio and music world introduced a integrated concert that proved to be the start of something wonderful. A chance for people of all walks of life to come together and enjoy music, a universal language. It continues today. Art Laboe hosts his Oldies concerts yearly all over the West Coast. He is still heard over the radio waves Daily on Los Angeles Hot 92 Jams , as well as Statewide in California and parts of Arizona on his SUNDAY NITE OLDIES SHOW which is hosted on various different radio stations, and is also heard online www.killeroldies.com.

Art is a great D.J. I have had the privilege to speak to from time to time whenever I call in to make a dedication. He is so down to earth and friendly with his listeners. He has been around a long time and I hope he continues his show for as long as possible.

To me oldies are something great. A Legacy left from one generation to another. Something to be appreciated. Not everyone likes Oldies but most people do appreciate that time period and the thought of the “Good Ole Days”. To some those days might not have been so good if they were the ones being discriminated against. I am sure as time went on they are appreciative that their kids and grandchildren can go to the very same Art Laboe Concert’s now without as much worries as there were back in 1957. Things sure have changed in the world though, and that’s a fact.

Sometimes it can be depressing to me how bad the world is in getting in a different way. But I can always know that I can crack open a Beer, throw some Carne Asada on the grill and tune into my Sunday Nite Oldies Show every Sunday, reminisce on the “Memories of El Monte" and remember the history behind it as well.

Pachuca213 (copyright)2009

I have the copyright as the author to this article.