Who remembers CASEY KASEM and American TOP 40?

Question

Years ago, before streaming services and handheld music devices, people used to listen to their music on the radio. In 1970,  Casey Kasem  started broadcasting a weekly program on the radio called  "American Top 40" , which was a countdown of the top 40 popular tunes for the previous week, as determined by  Billboard  magazine. The show ran until 1988, with Casey as host. It has continued with other hosts, including Ryan Seacrest since 2004, but there was something special about Casey Kasem's broadcasts. Do you remember Casey Kasem and the show? Any stories you'd like to tell? Casey Kasem passed away in 2014 at the age of 82.

WhiteSteve · Accepted Answer

I definitely remember Casey Kasem!

Couple stories…

First one, he was on an episode in the first season of one of my favorite shows as a kid, Saved By The Bell. The show hadn’t hit its stride quite yet, haha, this isn’t the scene I’d show someone if I was trying to sell them on the show, it’s wicked corny, lmao. But here’s a Kasem Kameo, in a Cosby sweater😂…

https://www.youtube.com/embed/rP_0x9vBgzM

And then the other one…. so, there was a very famous skit on the old Chappelle’s Show (one of the best shows of all time, SO good) where Eddie Murphy’s brother Charlie is recounting a story of an encounter he had with Prince back when he was running with Eddie in his heyday.

The skit centers around a pickup basketball game between Charlie Murphy & friends vs Prince and some other guys. Prince turns out to be a really good player, to Charlie’s surprise…

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ff8LEx9Mw54

So this relates to Casey Kasem because I remember back when I was younger, Prince had a big single out (I want to say it was Diamonds & Pearls), and Casey Kasem (always gotta say the whole name😝) introduces the song, saying “This next artist was an all-city basketball player in high school in his home city of Minneapolis, Minnesota….”, and when he revealed it was Prince, I was surprised. He looks small, which is obviously not ideal for hoops. But apparently he can ball.

So I always remembered that trivia and would share it with others, who, like me the first time, were like “For real? THAT Prince?” Watching that episode with roommates, it was a huge payoff for me when they were watching the skit and it got to that part, and one is like “wait! Steve, you once told me about Prince playing ball! You were right!”, haha, it’s rare to get a clean one like that😝

Hat tip to…”**Casey Kasem**”

MrOracle · Accepted Answer

Of course. As a mobile DJ since the mid-80s, I've had to keep up on popular music, and 40 years ago, American Top 40 was one of the better ways to do that. Radio DJs rarely mentioned artist names or song titles on the air, so even though you might know the song, trying to get a copy was not always easy. People would have to sing to the record store workers and hope they recognized the tune or lyric fragment. Casey Kasem at least told you who they were.

sage2021 · Accepted Answer

My radio station puts him on every Sunday night redoing all of his radio top 40 count down shows.

They are his original shows. I really like listening to him and remember him being on the radio in the 80's playing all of those great and not so great songs.

A true blast from the past and if you listened to it, you'd think it's current because they sound exactly the way they sounded in the way back.

He has a very unique voice and sounds like a very nice man. Especially when he reads people's letters with their stories and make a special song dedication to someone special in their life.

There are advantages to being my age because I lived from 1954-present and I heard and learned a lot of things that others never experienced because they are young/younger people.

Sometimes I feel sorry for the younger generations because they would have lived when America was great! They don't realize what Trump means when he said Make America Great Again, but I know 🙂

DeeDeeDeVour · Accepted Answer

I wasn't even a teenager yet when I started listening to American Top 40.

I met Casey in person at a basement studio in the LADWP Building in DTLA when I was 10.

I took a 45 rpm "I Love Rock 'N' Roll" record of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts with me which Casey autographed for me that day.

He also gave me an autographed t-shirt of himself.

Both the t-shirt & the 45 are displayed in my home office beside a guitar personally signed and given to me in 2014 by both Curt Smith & Roland Orzabal of Tears For Fears.

drummerdude25 · Answer

Trying to think of the best way to say this lol… One of my cousins married into a family that were cousins of his (?) or something like that…

There was some sort of relation there… I always enjoyed his show though, when I was younger. Iconic radio voice!

WindAtMyBack · Answer

It seems very vaguely familiar. So vague that I don't know if I actually remember. I was not really into top 40 lists, especially after AOR (Album Oriented Rock) became common at local stations in the early 70s. "Top 40" became almost an insult.

Lliam · Answer

I don't have any stories, but I vividly remember his radio show and seeing him on TV. We always took transistor radios to the beach and listened to his show a lot.

ArrowheadSW · Answer

I still hear re-runs of his shows. I didn't realize that the show ended in 1988. However I did know that he passed on about ten years ago. Great show and it was educating.

exitseven · Answer

There is a radio station that broadcasts old recordings of AT-40 in their entirety. The cool thing is that they pick a year and get the show from the same date.  Casey Casem was awesome.

lightbulb27 · Answer

a memorable voice I heard many times.  his death was quite a mess in the family. lookup photo with wife... an example of girls that date shorter guys...

ManOnFire · Answer

Yeah definitely. I think he also was the one who shocked people when he announced on morning that it would be his last broadcast, like with no warning.

Anonymous · Answer

Yes he was also the voice of Shaggy until Matthew Lillard came along who does an amazing job of it.

Dargil · Answer

I am aware of him. I did AM radio in college. Can emulate Michael Buffer. I'm aware of Arnie Ginsberg, Jerry Blavat and Hy Lit and on the soft side, Dick Summer.

IknowthatIdontKnow09 · Answer

I listened the American top 40 in my country PeRu on 1160 fm stre-state//background_color_rgba (0, 0, 0, 0), font_color_rgb (77, 77, 77), justifyLeft

OlderAndWiser · Answer

I remember those broadcasts but it's a distant memory.

BCRanger10 · Answer

I do. I remember listening to him on Saturday mornings back in the 1990s.

Kreneman · Answer

The good old days, I use to listen to him back in days.

Nikki1989 · Answer

Way before my time, but I know who he was.

Massageman · Answer

Oh yes. Kasem was also a Voiceover Performer for several animated characters.

Cubus · Answer

I only know him for voicing Shaggy in the original dub of "Scooby Doo"

Dongie · Answer

I remember that show and Casey Kasem. No stories right off but I'll work on my memory.

Chocopie1954 · Answer

Loved him, used to listen to him all the time. Have the family stopped fighting over his money?

Anonymous · Answer

He's still on the radio.

RageBabe · Answer

Without a doubt, I've heard of him.

Daniela1982 · Answer

Was he kind of like Dick Clark?

Bklynbadboy12 · Answer

Yes he you to host the new year ball drop ever year in New York

FunkyMonkee · Answer

And as Shaggy on Scooby Doo.

LadyBecks · Answer

I remember this!

Fireguy17 · Answer

yeppers.

Arizona8 · Answer

I do!

Who remembers CASEY KASEM and American TOP 40?

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