Remembering when I met Casey in NYC in 1995

[barjon]

Like all of Casey’s fans, I too am deeply saddened by the loss of our good friend.  That’s why I would like to share my memories of meeting Casey in person in 1995.

Back then there was a brief period when the New York City airwaves were without any of Casey’s shows. That didn’t sit well with me, so I wrote to Jim Kerr, morning host at Mix 105, my favorite station at the time. I let him know how much I missed hearing Casey count down the hits, and strongly suggested that they pick up Casey’s Hot 20. One morning several weeks later, I nearly drove off the road when I heard on the car radio that Casey’s Hot 20 was coming to WMXV, and that the station was going to host a Listener Breakfast with Casey Kasem to launch the show. As soon as I arrived at work I telephoned Jim Kerr who told me that my letter had helped the program directors make their decision, and that I was at the top of the invitation list.

It was an icy cold February morning, but I made my way to the radio station in Manhattan bright and early for the event. Casey arrived around soon after, and his friendly smile warmed everyone up.

In anticipation of having the opportunity to ask Casey a question, I spent many days trying to think of a good one. Not only was I able to ask him a question, it was broadcast live, on the air! Fortunately my mother thought to pop in a cassette and record the exchange. To the best of my knowledge it has never been made public by anyone else, so I put together a little clip of that recording along with a few photographs taken at the time to share with my fellow Casey Kasem fans.

Here's the link:
Casey Kasem at WMXV in New York City - 1995

And to Casey, there will always be a special place for you in our hearts!

[BrettVW]

Awesome story. I too am privileged that I had the opportunity to meet Casey. I met him six years ago at the Casey Kasem Day celebration in Fenton Michigan. I was living in Pennsylvania at the time and got up at the crack of dawn to make the five hour car ride. I had just happened to see something about the event online and almost didn't go. But as the event drew closer I figured that there wouldn't be many chances to ever meet my idol so I figured what the heck and went. Turns out it was one of the very last times Casey appeared in public.

I arrived to the event about an hour early. It was mainly children and families who were there for a screening of a Scooby Doo movie that promised a meet and greet with Casey afterward. My friend that I took along and I found a seat and began watching the movie. I actually felt very out of place as I was obviously one of the few that was there to meet Casey. Most were just there for a fun community event. I actually began to wonder if it was worth the trip.

About 3/4ths of the way through the movie I noticed a crowd gathering in a nearby hallway and sure enough Casey had arrived. I knew that at the end of the movie he was scheduled to come say hello to the crowd but I didn't want to wait that long. While I am hardly ever the type of person to get up and take charge, I left my seat walked into the hallway and immediately went to introduce myself to Casey. He could not have been more friendly and engaged with me as I immediately became that fan. I talked with him about how he had recently answered a question letter of mine on AT20 and AT10, and we briefly talked about my on air career which he wished me much luck on. After a few minutes of conversation we snapped a few pictures and exchanged a firm handshake. I am not one to get starstruck but having the opportunity to meet my idol truly was a moment that I will never forget.

After the talk he made some remarks to the audience and signed some autographs. I had brought my headphones for him to sign but did not have a sharpie. Oh well, I have a personalized headshot and a picture of him and I that still is displayed in my home to this day.

One thing I never mentioned on here in 2008 was that it was obvious that he was definitely frail. His voice was weak without the assistance of a microphone and he was definitely "older" then I thought he would be. Never in my wildest dreams however what I have thought he was in the early stages of Lewy body dementia.

The only regret I have was that Kerri, Mike and Julie were also at the event and I did not introduce myself to them. Mike was just starting to do fill in work on the shows and I had wished that I had also met him. And in the last few months I have communicated with Kerri via Twitter and the Kasem cares foundation so looking back it would have been cool to have met her back then.

But when all is said and done I had a chance to meet Casey, and it was a moment I will never forget

[dukelightning]

And to think that despite his frail condition and the onset of a disease, he was still doing countdowns. Casey really did push the envelope as far as he could in continuing all the way to the 4th of July 2009. What an impressive way to finish up his career those last couple years.

[BrettVW]

I had always believed AT20/AT10 were a victim of affiliate loss and Premiere budget cuts based on a few conversations I had with those "in the know." My guess is that was a good way to acknowledge it was not a true retirement without acknowledging Casey's condition. And heck, that may even be what they thought as well. I knew it wasn't voluntary retirement. Casey obviously wanted to keep it private, I wonder how many on staff were aware of Casey's health struggles and when and how Casey made the decision that he could not continue.

[Deleted]

I figured like you it was budget related. And perhaps that was part of it. But I think his health was the main one now. Last year when I was hearing bits and pieces of shows from 2009 he sounded awful compared to just a year or two before. I think that "American Top 20" segue they did to get out of one song and into another without the outro and intro of the next was done in part because it was becoming more difficult.

As far as how many on the staff, Id say anyone who worked directly with him. I say this because Guy Aoki who worked on AT40 in the 80s posted on Facebook that someone who worked with Casey in 2009 had told him the last edition of AT20 took somewhere between 9-12 hours to do. And it was because he couldn't make sense and understand what he was reading. Now keep in mind, there were no songs they were playing through. Just voice tracking. And that was one show. That doesn't even figure in AT10. I asked him how long it used to take him to voice track a show in the 80s and he said it would take 4 hours. So just imagine how bad his health was for this to go on.

I truly believe he would have wanted to make it 40 at least if possible. That would have seemed poetic to call it a career then. I remember people saying originally the idea was for Mike to take over until they just decided to end it. Perhaps if he could have made it to 40 Mike would have hosted more that last year to sort of begin the transition. I also remember how abrupt the announcement of the shows ending came. I think it was mostly all health related looking back now.

[your friend]

Jun 18, 2014 20:01:12 GMT -5 @paul said:

I figured like you it was budget related. And perhaps that was part of it. But I think his health was the main one now. Last year when I was hearing bits and pieces of shows from 2009 he sounded awful compared to just a year or two before. I think that "American Top 20" segue they did to get out of one song and into another without the outro and intro of the next was done in part because it was becoming more difficult. [...]

I also remember how abrupt the announcement of the shows ending came. I think it was mostly all health related looking back now.

I thought something was up when I started hearing the "No Nuthin" between songs--it just didn't seem like something Casey would normally do, since he ALWAYS introed-and-outroed songs in the past.