ABC News reports that 77-year-old Casey Kasem concluded a 39-year run of his American Top 40 radio show over the weekend “with no hoopla and hardly any advance notice.”
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.
“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,” [said Kasem in a recent press 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 recently reprised his role as the voice of Shaggy for the direct-to-DVD April 7th release of Scooby-Doo and the Samurai Sword.
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