Casey Kasem Dead At 82

R.I.P. Casey!

Casey Kasem Dead At 82, Remembered By Ryan Seacrest

Casey Kasem’s replacement Ryan Seacrest recently made a classy move by issuing a statement on the radio legend’s death.

CNN reports:

Word of Casey Kasem’s death hit Sunday morning — the same time of day that millions of people listened to his “American Top 40” radio show each week for four decades.

Ryan Seacrest, who took over hosting duties from Kasem 10 years ago, called it “a sad day for the broadcasting community and for radio listeners around the world.”

“When I was a kid, I would listen to Casey Kasem’s “AT40″ show every weekend, and dream about someday becoming a radio DJ,” Seacrest said in a statement. “So when decades later I took over his AT40 countdown show, it was a surreal moment. Casey had a distinctive friendly on-air voice, and he was just as affable and nice if you had the privilege to be in his company. He’ll be greatly missed by all of us.”

Seacrest will expand on that in next weekend’s AT40 show, which will be dedicated to the “King of Countdowns.” The show’s website posted an audio tribute to Kasem Sunday so fans could hear his voice.

DJ Rick Dees, whose own syndicated music countdown competed with Kasem’s, told CNN that their “friendly competition led to years of friendship and respect. We will all miss his style, his voice, and his ability to communicate. Casey was an original who can’t be replaced.”

Ryan also posted the below tweet on his official account.

David B Edwards / WENN