In Memoriam: Casey Kasem

Remembering the life of a radio trailblazer.

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)
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)
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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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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