CASEY KASEM

It's been amazing, the number of commercials that I've done, starting back in 1968. It must be 8,000.

I like the storytelling and reading the letters, the long-distance dedications. Anytime in radio that you can reach somebody on an emotional level, you're really connecting.

I had also done a little disc jockeying.

Success doesn't happen in a vacuum. You're only as good as the people you work with and the people you work for.

For years everyone looked toward the demise of radio when television came along. Before that, they thought talking movies might eliminate radio as well. But radio just keeps getting stronger.

They are going to be playing Shaggy and Scooby-Doo for eons and eons, and they're going to forget Casey Kasem - unless they happen to step on his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I'll be one of those guys people say, 'Who's that?' about. And someone else will say, 'He's just some guy who used to be on the radio.'

I like the storytelling and reading the letters, the long-distance dedications.

The first syndicating I tried was when two partners and I created a production company in 1952. We wanted to syndicate famous Bible stories and sell them for $25 a show.

Even when I do commercials, I try to tell a story about the product. With music, I try to tell the story of the person's struggle for success. And I believe every word I say. I never read anything on the air I don't believe in. I think people sense that about me, and they respond to it.

Anytime in radio that you can reach somebody on an emotional level, you're really connecting.

Despite all the technical improvements, it still boils down to a man or a woman and a microphone, playing music, sharing stories, talking about issues - communicating with an audience.

I've never loved listening to music.

Always be consistent.

Garbage. It's a natural quality of huskiness in the midrange of my voice that I call 'garbage.' It's not a clear-toned announcer's voice. It's more like the voice of the guy next door.

'American Top 40' allowed me to be current without my having to force change to keep up with things. The new songs kept us up to date, so every show sounded fresh.

If I were doing a real rock show, slapping the phone book in time to the music, grooving with the songs, then it would matter to know how I felt about what I was playing. You can't fake it in that situation. But I'm just counting them down as they appear on the chart, 1 through 40. What really matters is what I say between the songs.

My agent said that I was one of the top three busiest people in the country.

Songs used to be short, then they became longer, and now they're getting shorter. But otherwise, music is about a beat and a message. If the beat gets to the audience, and the message touches them, you've got a hit.

My first commercial was for Miller High Life beer.

Because of my background in theater and radio acting, I knew that I could make a living as an actor.

I love to keep busy. But I never forget it's the countdown that made it all possible.

I must have done about 25,000 promos.

Growing up, I actually wanted to be a professional baseball player instead of a radio DJ. Believe it or not.

I credit God with giving me the idea for 'Top 40.'

Interestingly, songs used to be short, then they became longer, and now they're getting shorter.