In Memoriam: Casey Kasem

Remembering the life of a radio trailblazer.

Remembering a Radio Icon - On June 15, 2014, the voice of American radio was silenced when disc jockey, music historian and voice actor Casey Kasem passed away. His upbeat and friendly baritone voice introduced the songs (and stories of the music artists' lives) that spanned generations.  Here, BET.com celebrates the life of a phenomenal talent who always reminded listeners to, "keep reaching for the stars." (Photo: Kim Kulish/Corbis)

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Remembering a Radio Icon - On June 15, 2014, the voice of American radio was silenced when disc jockey, music historian and voice actor Casey Kasem passed away. His upbeat and friendly baritone voice introduced the songs (and stories of the music artists' lives) that spanned generations.  Here, BET.com celebrates the life of a phenomenal talent who always reminded listeners to, "keep reaching for the stars." (Photo: Kim Kulish/Corbis)

Birth of a Broadcasting Star - Born Kemal Amin Kasem in Detroit on April 27, 1932, to Lebanese Druze immigrant parents, Casey Kasem conceived his now signature DJ style while working at a radio station in Oakland, California. As the music director and on-air personality at KEWB, he developed a radio show that mixed in biographical info about the artists he played. (Photo: Allan H. Plant Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Birth of a Broadcasting Star - Born Kemal Amin Kasem in Detroit on April 27, 1932, to Lebanese Druze immigrant parents, Casey Kasem conceived his now signature DJ style while working at a radio station in Oakland, California. As the music director and on-air personality at KEWB, he developed a radio show that mixed in biographical info about the artists he played. (Photo: Allan H. Plant Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Hooray for Hollywood - After a move to Los Angeles in the early 1960s, Kasem's career took flight. Dick Clark hired him to host the teenage music show Shebang, and Casey appeared on several network TV shows including Hawaii Five-O and Ironside. Kasem even tried a stint as a movie actor and was featured in the films The Glory Stompers, The Wild Wheels and The Cycle Savages. (Photo: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

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Hooray for Hollywood - After a move to Los Angeles in the early 1960s, Kasem's career took flight. Dick Clark hired him to host the teenage music show Shebang, and Casey appeared on several network TV shows including Hawaii Five-O and Ironside. Kasem even tried a stint as a movie actor and was featured in the films The Glory Stompers, The Wild Wheels and The Cycle Savages. (Photo: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

When Casey Met Cartoons - Kasem transitioned into voice acting by the end of the 1960s and into a role that would be his most famous through the decades, the character Shaggy Rogers in the cartoon Scooby Doo. He would later work in animation by providing voices for Robin in Superfriends, Alex in Josie and Pussycats, Peter in Here Comes Peter Cottontail and several characters in the 1980s Transformers cartoons. (Photo: Giulio Marcocchi/Getty Images)

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When Casey Met Cartoons - Kasem transitioned into voice acting by the end of the 1960s and into a role that would be his most famous through the decades, the character Shaggy Rogers in the cartoon Scooby Doo. He would later work in animation by providing voices for Robin in Superfriends, Alex in Josie and Pussycats, Peter in Here Comes Peter Cottontail and several characters in the 1980s Transformers cartoons. (Photo: Giulio Marcocchi/Getty Images)

America's Top DJ - In 1970, Kasem launched his legendary radio program American Top 40 countdown. Based on Billboard Hot 100 singles of the week, Casey mixed in bio info on music artists, featured flashback segments and read listeners "long distance dedication letters" on the air. The show, which debuted on only seven stations, was an instant hit and quickly went nationwide. (Photo: Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)

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America's Top DJ - In 1970, Kasem launched his legendary radio program American Top 40 countdown. Based on Billboard Hot 100 singles of the week, Casey mixed in bio info on music artists, featured flashback segments and read listeners "long distance dedication letters" on the air. The show, which debuted on only seven stations, was an instant hit and quickly went nationwide. (Photo: Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)

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Back to Acting - Kasem resurfaced back on screen as an actor in television in the late '70s. He appeared in Charlie's Angels, Police Story and Quincy M.E. He could also be seen in a cameo in the film Ghostbusters, which also featured his wife, Jean Kasem. Casey was also the staff announcer for the NBC television network. (Photo: Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)

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Back to Acting - Kasem resurfaced back on screen as an actor in television in the late '70s. He appeared in Charlie's Angels, Police Story and Quincy M.E. He could also be seen in a cameo in the film Ghostbusters, which also featured his wife, Jean Kasem. Casey was also the staff announcer for the NBC television network. (Photo: Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)

Spinoff Success Story - America's Top 40 launched a successful spinoff, America's Top 10, a weekly music video show in 1980. Hosted by Kasem, during the MTV era, the show featured snippets and full-length clips of the nation's hottest songs. Thanks to his wide and varied knowledge of music, Casey was not only known as a disc jockey, he was also renowned and recognized as a music historian. (Photo: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

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Spinoff Success Story - America's Top 40 launched a successful spinoff, America's Top 10, a weekly music video show in 1980. Hosted by Kasem, during the MTV era, the show featured snippets and full-length clips of the nation's hottest songs. Thanks to his wide and varied knowledge of music, Casey was not only known as a disc jockey, he was also renowned and recognized as a music historian. (Photo: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)

Top 40 Franchise Continues - After an America Top 40 hosting hiatus, Kasem returned to the program in 1997 but then finally turned the franchise over to Ryan Seacrest in 2004. Casey then moved on to host holiday-themed and Christmas countdown programs plus shorter spinoff versions of AT40, including America's Top 20 and America's Top 10. (Photo: Tonya Wise / London Ent / Splash)

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Top 40 Franchise Continues - After an America Top 40 hosting hiatus, Kasem returned to the program in 1997 but then finally turned the franchise over to Ryan Seacrest in 2004. Casey then moved on to host holiday-themed and Christmas countdown programs plus shorter spinoff versions of AT40, including America's Top 20 and America's Top 10. (Photo: Tonya Wise / London Ent / Splash)

Countdown TV Move - In 2005, an American Top 40 Live TV special hosted by Seacreast and featuring Kasem aired on the Fox Network. Casey also provided voice over for WGN America's Out of Sight Retro Night in 2008. (Photo: Newsmakers via Getty Images)

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Countdown TV Move - In 2005, an American Top 40 Live TV special hosted by Seacreast and featuring Kasem aired on the Fox Network. Casey also provided voice over for WGN America's Out of Sight Retro Night in 2008. (Photo: Newsmakers via Getty Images)

Last Call for Shaggy - After quitting the Scooby Doo show in 1995, Kasem reprised his voice role as Shaggy in 2002. He also provided the voice of Shaggy's father, Colton Rogers, on a recurring and uncredited basis for the sereis Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated. (Photo: Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)

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Last Call for Shaggy - After quitting the Scooby Doo show in 1995, Kasem reprised his voice role as Shaggy in 2002. He also provided the voice of Shaggy's father, Colton Rogers, on a recurring and uncredited basis for the sereis Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated. (Photo: Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)

A Radio Legend Retires - Kasem retired from America's Top 10 and America's Top 20 and ended both shows on July 4, 2009. He also retired from voice acting that same year. In a career that spanned 39 years in both the countdown and voice acting business, Kasem, who was featured on his daughter Kerri Kasem's podcast, also appeared in over 100 commercials during his lifetime. Casey Kasem was a unique and unforgettable voice of our time, who, through his entertaining and beloved work, will live on for a lifetime. (Photo: Chris Weeks/Liaison via Getty Images)

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A Radio Legend Retires - Kasem retired from America's Top 10 and America's Top 20 and ended both shows on July 4, 2009. He also retired from voice acting that same year. In a career that spanned 39 years in both the countdown and voice acting business, Kasem, who was featured on his daughter Kerri Kasem's podcast, also appeared in over 100 commercials during his lifetime. Casey Kasem was a unique and unforgettable voice of our time, who, through his entertaining and beloved work, will live on for a lifetime. (Photo: Chris Weeks/Liaison via Getty Images)