Press & broadcasting / Film & TV
Casey Kasem
1932–2014 · radio host, disc jockey, voice actor
Detroit-born host of American Top 40 and original voice of Shaggy in Scooby-Doo, who started on the air at Northwestern High and Detroit radio stations.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan- Died
Gig Harbor, Washington
aged 82- Birth name
- Kemal Amin Kasem
- Also known as
- Voice of Shaggy
- Detroit years
- 1932–1950s
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Casey Kasem was born Kemal Amin Kasem in Detroit to Lebanese Druze immigrants who ran a grocery store. He first went on the air covering sports at Northwestern High School, and while a student at Wayne State University he voiced children in the radio dramas The Lone Ranger and Challenge of the Yukon, both produced in Detroit. After Army service in Korea he began broadcasting professionally in Flint, then worked for Detroit's WJLB and WJBK, where he also played a children's TV host called Krogo the Clown. He stepped away from radio to help at the family grocery in Fenton, and when he tried to return to WJBK he was steered to a sister station in Cleveland. From there his career led to California, where American Top 40, launched in 1970, made his voice one of the best known in America.
Highlights
- Created and hosted American Top 40 (1970–1988, 1998–2004)
- Original voice of Shaggy Rogers in Scooby-Doo (1969–1997, 2002–2009)
- Voiced Robin in Super Friends (1973–1985)
- Started out on Detroit stations WJLB and WJBK in the 1950s
- Among the best-known Arab American broadcasters
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 4
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Studied here · 1940s
Northwestern High School
Detroit public high school where Kasem got his first on-air experience covering sports.
Studied here · 1950s
Wayne State University
As a Wayne State student Kasem voiced children in Detroit-made radio dramas such as The Lone Ranger.
Worked here · 1950s
WJBK
Detroit station where Kasem worked as a young broadcaster and played Krogo the Clown on children's TV. WJBK-TV still broadcasts today as FOX 2 Detroit.
Worked here · 1950s
WJLB
Detroit radio station where Kasem worked early in his career; today an urban-music FM station.