Casey Kasem passes away

[rondixon66]

The world has lost another of the greats. I listened and wrote down all those songs week after week it was such a large part of my childhood and as his intros and sound bites changed so did my countdown sheet. I made as many a week as I could following stations while on vacations with my parents. Oh so fitting that he passes on his regular countdown day (Sunday). Glad to have had your feet on the ground for so many years for us to be able to listen to - one day I sure hope to meet you up there in the stars but for now I'll keep the radio (computer) tuned right where it is! Thanks for all the great memories and shows Casey you will be missed but never ever forgotten!!!!!

[BrettVW]

Statement from Rick Dees:

Sad to hear the news this morning. I enjoyed sharing the same space on the radio with Casey. Our friendly competition lead to years of friendship and respect.
We will all miss his style, his voice, and his ability to communicate. Casey was an original who can’t be replaced.
-Rick Dees

[pointpark04]

Rick Dees, classy statement.

[adam31]

I'm at a loss for words right now, so I'll just pass along this link: Shadoe Stevens remembers Casey Kasem.

www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/casey-kasem-dead-shadoe-stevens-711983

The CBS Evening News did around a 3 minute piece on Casey's passing including clips and photos. Really neat.

[rayshae3]

As reactions, tributes and reflections pour in this father’s day, Variety has this special factoid(s):
Casey Kasem: 10 things you didn’t know about his early career

[Deleted]

My parents just found out about Casey Kasem's death.

[Deleted]

Shadoe Stevens Twitter:

My friend Casey Kasem passed on today. I'll miss him but he finally reached the stars.

The "big 3" left of pop countdowns have all chimed in now. (Seacrest, Dees, and Stevens)

[Deleted]

Sunny Radio didn't mention Casey Kasem's death.

[rayshae3]

Long tribute from Gary Trust, Billboard’s current ChartBeat editor:
How Casey Kasem Gave Billboard a Voice

Other celebs’ tweets reacting to the news of Casey’s passing (incl: Bryan Adams, Marie Osmond & Nancy Sinatra)
Musicians and celebrities react on Twitter


Continous airings of AT40 on Sirius XM

[blackbowl68]

WCBS-FM in New York just acknowledged Casey's passing and played a 3-minute collage of his voice on classic AT40 shows.

[kenmartin]

WBBG is playing the Casey's #1's special from Memorial Day right now.

[packerfan]

I feel like a part of my youth also died today. Thank you Casey for all the wonderful years. RIP

[erik]

This was the tribute I wrote for Casey on my FB page, so this was written largely for an audience who may not have followed him as closely as we do here.

I can't let this day end without saying something in honor of the passing of "American Top 40" host Casey Kasem.

Ever since I discovered syndicated weekly countdown radio shows in 1982 (my first was "Weekly Music Magazine" w/ Charlie Van Dyke) and "American Top 40" back in 1983 and 1984, it became an important part of my weekend routine to listen to the Top 40 songs every week. I literally became a "chart freak" who would write down the Top 40 songs in a notebook. I would memorize a song's peak position on the Billboard chart and many other fun facts. Beyond the chart trivia his show offered, Casey was a master of telling a story to make the weekly ride all the more enjoyable.

I kept that notebook starting in 1984. One of my regrets to this day was tossing the original handwritten notes some time in the early '90s when Joel Whitburn's Record Research company published the Billboard Hot 100 Charts books. Those books reproduced the same charts used for AT40 in high quality photocopies. By that time, I saw little value in my original notes, not even for nostalgia. The Record Research books were an "upgrade" so to speak.

Ironically, it was only within the last two weeks before Casey's passing that I discovered I did not dispose of all my AT40 notes. A few still remain! I happened to find these notes all because I need to renew my passport. I lost my old passport, which has been expired for 3 years, so I need a birth certificate to apply for a replacement. In the process of searching for a birth certificate which I thought I had in my possession, I was shocked to uncover my original handwritten notes for all the AT40 year-end countdowns from 1984-1990. They were found in a fire safe lock box which I hadn't used for years.

In honor of Casey Kasem, I gathered those notes and a few other items to share.

"...and the countdown continues on American Top 40"
Casey Kasem (1932-2014)

[mytwocents]

Wow -- I can't think of anything to say that's not already been said by others with varying degrees of eloquence, but neither can I let this saddest of days pass without saying anything at all...

Requiescat in pace and vaya con Dios, Casey!...

[Shane LaFleur]

"I first heard Casey Kasem on the radio in 1989 on Casey's Top 40 on 93.3 WSNE. I listened off an on for the next several years before listening regularly to the show around 1996-97. Every week I would listen to his stories and wait to see which song made #1 each week.

I started keeping track of the Top 40 (particularly the top 20) starting in September of 1997 and have been keeping track ever since. That inspired me to create a music chart of my own in February of 1998 which I still update every week. When they decided to bring classic episodes of American Top 40, I would get up early to listen to them on Sundays then tune in to hear the current version.

When he handed over the reins of AT40 to Ryan Seacrest, I was sad but knew that he wouldn't host forever. Years later, I decided to go to Connecticut School of Broadcasting to become a DJ. My Goal? To become the next Casey Kasem. I'm not quite there yet, but someday I hope to be as well known on the air as he was. If not for him, I may not have been inspired to be on air and there would be no 'Shane's Lost Hits' right now.

I close with Casey's famous sign out line which he said at the end of every episode of Casey's and American Top 40 - 'Keep Your Feet On The Ground And Keep Reaching For The Stars'

Rest in Peace, Casey..you have finally reached the stars 

- Posted from my G+ page