Wow. I had no idea that Casey Kasem was about to sign off for the last time. I can remember hearing him on WJDQ (Q101)/Meridian, MS when I was a kid and thinking it was the coolest thing ever. What memories do you have of the real American Top 40? (thank to Rob McKenzie - I stole this from his blog).
FROM ABC NEWS:
"We began the weekend of July 4, 1970, and after 39 years this will be our final countdown," Kasem said matter-of-factly on his "American Top 20" radio show over the weekend.
And so, with no hoopla and hardly any advance notice, the 77-year-old broadcasting legend counted down the hits one last time, quietly pulling the plug on a weekly ritual for his legion of loyal listeners.
It is, in many ways, the end of an era
Kasem was the last of the big-time DJs, a legacy that includes Alan Freed and Wolfman Jack, personalities who brought music to Americans when radio was king.
"Casey Kasem ... Dick Clark ... I really felt like these guys were a part of my family. You get this connection when you're listening to them or when you're watching them," said Ryan Seacrest, who took the mic as host of Kasem's signature "American Top 40" show five years ago. Kasem continued to host two spinoffs, "American Top 20" and "American Top 10."
Kasem pioneered the countdown format on radio. He always included biographical details, little tidbits mainly, about the musicians. And there were those long-distance dedications, thousands of them, through the years.
Kasem also has voiced over countless commercials and given life to so many cartoon characters, most famously as the voice of Scooby-Doo's faithful sidekick, Shaggy.
But it was his work as the king of countdowns that brought him a star, in 1981, on Hollywood's Walk of Fame and entry, in 1992, into the Radio Hall of Fame.
Jeannie Kasem said her husband ended "American Top 20" and "American Top 10," both of which counted down adult contemporary music hits, because he wanted time to pursue other projects, including possibly writing a memoir.
Radical changes in the radio business also were a factor, associates said. Adult contemporary music charts no longer change much from week to week, in part because stations that play such music have adopted smaller and smaller playlists. That brought a degree of monotony to Kasem's countdowns in recent years.
"I think it was probably a gradual process. Charts are changing, stations are changing, the networks are changing, radio itself is changing, and I think, you know, the pendulum swings back and forth," Jeannie Kasem said." You just have to be willing to jump ship and try something new."
Kasem's voice will not disappear from the airwaves entirely. Weekly rebroadcasts of his Top 40 programs from the 1970s and 1980s will air on more than 200 stations.
Kasem let the world know he was getting out of the countdown business through a brief, mostly overlooked, news release a few days ago.
"Hosting various versions of my countdown program has kept me extremely busy, and I loved every minute of it. However, this decision will free up time I need to focus on myriad other projects," he said in the release. "The 70's and 80's versions of "American Top 40" have experienced phenomenal station and audience growth over the last year and I'm sure they will continue to be successful."
He has declined requests for interviews about his decision.
"He's never been big on goodbyes or hellos," his wife explained in an interview in their home in Holmby Hills, Calif. "He lets his work speak for himself."
Kasem's first No. 1 was "Mama Told Me Not to Come" by Three Dog Night. His last: "Second Chance," by Shinedown.
The music changed, but Kasem never did.
"I'm Casey Kasem," he said in his final sign-off. "Now, one more time, the words I've ended my show with since 1970: Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars."
Monday, July 6, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Bucket of Fail
Can we get some common sense in our government? I mean, seriously, what the deuce is wrong with these people? Are they really as stupid and clueless as they act or is it all just a part of the political game? Regardless of the reason I’m sick of it and I’m sick and tired of the citizens of Mississippi and the rest of the United States suffering for their petty bickering. This kind of reminds me of being back in school.
First, since I’m from there, let’s look at Mississippi. They couldn’t pass a budget during their regular session because they had a schoolyard argument about Medicaid, education, most other state agencies and whether to have plain milk or chocolate milk with their square pizza. After they recessed to go play on the swings Principal Barbour called them back in for a detention. So, they came in, got Medicaid worked out and passed most of a budget. In the process they also caved to our good-ole-boy governor on giving a virtually unlimited number of raises to his staff (Barbour even went so far as to “angrily confront” members of the state House on the topic). Even after all of that the Legislature still could not get a budget for the Public Service Commission passed. So, the mean nasty Principal Barbour will be calling the kiddos back for another special session that will cost us more money so that they can kiss and make up. Loverly. By the way, since the PSC is now unfunded our utility companies are running with no oversight. One member of the State House stated that the companies are now running “on their honor.” Yeah, that’s some great work there Lou. Forgive me but I fail to see the point to all of this beyond politics as usual. The only losers are me and you.
Now on the feds. As you saw in my last blog I am none too pleased with our “representatives” in Washington. The people that we have sent in DC right now are a disgrace and deserve nothing short of our complete and utter disdain. How did these people even figure out how to put on their clothes let alone become qualified to run a country? The nice stimulus package they passed a while back? You know, the one that promised would keep unemployment under 8%? Well, that got blown out of the water. There’s talk of yet another stimulus package. Where in the world is this money coming from (*coughChinacough*)? The national debt is now higher than it’s ever been. The budget deficit is unbelievable. So, naturally, our elected officials want to throw more money into the pit to try and stop it from getting any deeper.
Anyone who has ever struggled with credit card debt can tell you that the way to get out of debt is not to get deeper into it. There comes a time when the budgets have to be trimmed and we have to stop spending $200 on hammers. Have these people never listened to Dave Ramsey? He would make a much better President than this disgrace we have in DC right now. Our government is nothing more than a bucket of fail and we’re just sitting back and taking it. I wonder if we will still feel this way when our take home pay goes way down due to the new taxes that will surely have to be levied to pay for all this junk that we “need.” I mean, somebody’s got to pay for the study on turtles and the bridges to nowhere. I find the way our government spends money (and the things they spend it on) appalling. We entrust these people with our hard earned money but do not hold them accountable. No, we let them spend money to renovate an old train depot while letting out water mains break. “But we don’t have money to fix our water.” Hey moron, yes you do. You just chose to spend it elsewhere.
How would I fix it? My solution is simple: When it comes time to vote we use the opportunity to send all these leeches packing. Do some research and see what each candidate stands for and what they plan to do. Do not just tow some party line, that’s the worst mistake you could ever make. In fact that kind of voting is partly to blame for getting us into this mess. Consider voting for a “third party” candidate. They seem to be the only ones offering fresh and common sense ideas these days. I say we need to consider giving them a shot. We should also fight hard for term limits across the board. I am sorry to say that there are some good people who deserve to stay but the bad ones outweigh the good ones. I find it a shame that everyone would have to suffer for the stupidity of others but that is the way it is. There is on exception I would make this: Presidents and governors should only be allowed one term.
So that is my rant for now. Can you tell that I’m fed up? I only wish more people were, rather that they would speak out. I know I am not the only one thinking these things. Step up. That is the only way this country will be turned back in a good direction.
Jonathan
First, since I’m from there, let’s look at Mississippi. They couldn’t pass a budget during their regular session because they had a schoolyard argument about Medicaid, education, most other state agencies and whether to have plain milk or chocolate milk with their square pizza. After they recessed to go play on the swings Principal Barbour called them back in for a detention. So, they came in, got Medicaid worked out and passed most of a budget. In the process they also caved to our good-ole-boy governor on giving a virtually unlimited number of raises to his staff (Barbour even went so far as to “angrily confront” members of the state House on the topic). Even after all of that the Legislature still could not get a budget for the Public Service Commission passed. So, the mean nasty Principal Barbour will be calling the kiddos back for another special session that will cost us more money so that they can kiss and make up. Loverly. By the way, since the PSC is now unfunded our utility companies are running with no oversight. One member of the State House stated that the companies are now running “on their honor.” Yeah, that’s some great work there Lou. Forgive me but I fail to see the point to all of this beyond politics as usual. The only losers are me and you.
Now on the feds. As you saw in my last blog I am none too pleased with our “representatives” in Washington. The people that we have sent in DC right now are a disgrace and deserve nothing short of our complete and utter disdain. How did these people even figure out how to put on their clothes let alone become qualified to run a country? The nice stimulus package they passed a while back? You know, the one that promised would keep unemployment under 8%? Well, that got blown out of the water. There’s talk of yet another stimulus package. Where in the world is this money coming from (*coughChinacough*)? The national debt is now higher than it’s ever been. The budget deficit is unbelievable. So, naturally, our elected officials want to throw more money into the pit to try and stop it from getting any deeper.
Anyone who has ever struggled with credit card debt can tell you that the way to get out of debt is not to get deeper into it. There comes a time when the budgets have to be trimmed and we have to stop spending $200 on hammers. Have these people never listened to Dave Ramsey? He would make a much better President than this disgrace we have in DC right now. Our government is nothing more than a bucket of fail and we’re just sitting back and taking it. I wonder if we will still feel this way when our take home pay goes way down due to the new taxes that will surely have to be levied to pay for all this junk that we “need.” I mean, somebody’s got to pay for the study on turtles and the bridges to nowhere. I find the way our government spends money (and the things they spend it on) appalling. We entrust these people with our hard earned money but do not hold them accountable. No, we let them spend money to renovate an old train depot while letting out water mains break. “But we don’t have money to fix our water.” Hey moron, yes you do. You just chose to spend it elsewhere.
How would I fix it? My solution is simple: When it comes time to vote we use the opportunity to send all these leeches packing. Do some research and see what each candidate stands for and what they plan to do. Do not just tow some party line, that’s the worst mistake you could ever make. In fact that kind of voting is partly to blame for getting us into this mess. Consider voting for a “third party” candidate. They seem to be the only ones offering fresh and common sense ideas these days. I say we need to consider giving them a shot. We should also fight hard for term limits across the board. I am sorry to say that there are some good people who deserve to stay but the bad ones outweigh the good ones. I find it a shame that everyone would have to suffer for the stupidity of others but that is the way it is. There is on exception I would make this: Presidents and governors should only be allowed one term.
So that is my rant for now. Can you tell that I’m fed up? I only wish more people were, rather that they would speak out. I know I am not the only one thinking these things. Step up. That is the only way this country will be turned back in a good direction.
Jonathan
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