A new procedure for the synthesis of known azo pyridone dyes is presented. A series of 5-(substituted arylazo)-6-hydroxy-4-methyl-3- cyano-2-pyridones were prepared from ethyl 3-oxo-2-(substituted phenyldiazenyl)butanoates and cyanoacetamide in acetone using potassium hydroxide as a catalyst by simple refluxing the reaction mixture. The structure of these dyes was confirmed by FT-IR, NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy.