Connecticut radio personality John Labarca, known for his hosting of “Italian House Party,” has passed away at the age of 76. Reports of his death have been circulating on social media and have been confirmed by news blog Only in Bridgeport.
The circumstances surrounding Labarca’s death remain unknown at this time. However, the radio personality was renowned for his positive demeanor and was a fixture on the airwaves for two decades as the host of “Italian House Party” and the morning show on WICC, according to The Laurel.
On Tuesday, as word of Labarca’s passing circulated, an outpouring of tributes flooded his Facebook page.
“RIP my friend,” wrote Jim Santa Barbara. “I will never forget the countless hours of great radio you gave us.”
“John, thank you for many years of music & laughter!” wrote Rosanne Ciliberto Reyes. “You were Italian House Party! Rest in Peace.”
Most recently, Labarca hosted Italian House Party on WHLI, an easy listening Long Island station.
“It’s three fun-filled hours of some of the best Italian music ever recorded, stories, anecdotes and Italian history as can only be told by John LaBarca!” the station wrote in its description of the show.
John Labarca Career Before His Death
Hailing from the bustling borough of Brooklyn, New York, LaBarca’s early career as a captain at the iconic Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan proved to be a pivotal moment in his journey as a masterful storyteller with a flair for public speaking. The speaker captivated the crowd with personal anecdotes from his youth, touching on topics such as cuisine, celebrations, kinship, and melodies.
Leveraging his powerful platform, he generously supported various community organizations, promoting numerous needy institutions.
LaBarca exuded a charming quality that conveyed a sense of sensitivity. The subject’s emotional state was highly unpredictable, as he was just as likely to burst into tears as he was to erupt into fits of laughter. His bear-like physique made every embrace a joyous experience. Having worked alongside notable personalities such as news director Tim Quinn and “Captain Traffic” Morgan Kaolian, he served as the morning drive host on WICC for two decades, from Monday to Friday.
Following his dismissal from WICC in 2007, the station was inundated with a barrage of irate phone calls from his devoted fan base. Not only Connecticut residents, but also individuals from other locations. LaBarca’s commanding voice and the extensive reach of his station have garnered a significant following on Long Island, despite being only 20 miles away from WICC’s transmitter on Pleasure Beach.
LaBarca’s personality went beyond ethnicity. One does not require Italian heritage to enjoy his radio program.
In the world of radio, success can be fleeting and largely dependent on audience ratings. Contrary to popular belief, LaBarca’s departure was not due to ratings. Management’s disagreement led to his termination. A year after his termination, the individual who dismissed him, the general manager, would depart from the station.
At the time of LaBarca’s dismissal, OIB was still in its early stages of development. LaBarca was struck with a feeling akin to a blow to his stomach. With his ability to provide a joyful respite, he had reached an extensive audience of hundreds of thousands.
The AM radio vision of his youth was changing, something LaBarca noted away from the booth.
“Some people grew up listening to me until corporate took over and lost sight of the relevancy of what AM radio is about,” he said then. “Rather than relating to the audience they chose shows where people yell at each other or talk real fast. AM radio has been formatted to death.”
LaBarca experienced the high and lows of the industry. He bounced from station to station in the years after he left WICC. In recent years, however, he found a home with radio station WHLI sharing his Italian House Party with new and old listeners.
LaBarca, “the boat” in Italian, sailed to a fitting place to end his radio career.