One of the most identifiable voices in radio and television, Casey Kasem is known throughout the world as the personality behind radio's most successful countdown program, American Top 40. Born Kemel Amin Kasem in Detroit in 1932, Kasem dreamed of becoming a baseball player until his broadcasting career began at WJLB Detroit in 1954. While he appeared in several motion pictures, numerous commercials, and television cartoon series (most notably as the voice of Shaggy on the popular Scooby Doo series) Casey Kasem did not become a household name until the debut of American Top 40 on July 4, 1970. Considered to be the standard-bearer in modern count-down programs, Kasem revolutionized the format with his unique style and warm personality.

Kasem's trademark "teaser-bio" format, which he first employed at an Oakland, California radio station, became not only the hallmark of American Top 40 but also influenced countless disk jockeys and similarly themed...