Casey Kasem

I had also done a little disc jockeying.

If the beat gets to the audience, and the message touches them, you've got a hit.

Despite all the technical improvements, it still boils down to a man or a woman and a microphone, playing music, sharing stories, talking about issues - communicating with an audience.

We tell stories. We talk about statistics. And in 1978, we added an element of the show that gave it its heartbeat: the long distance dedication.

Garbage. It's a natural quality of huskiness in the midrange of my voice that I call 'garbage.' It's not a clear-toned announcer's voice. It's more like the voice of the guy next door.

As you know, in the past several years, month after month, radio has increased its revenues - some of it even coming from Dot-Com advertisers. So, radio is a survivor.

Basically, radio hasn't changed over the years.

I like the storytelling and reading the letters, the long-distance dedications.

Interestingly, songs used to be short, then they became longer, and now they're getting shorter.

Because of my background in theater and radio acting, I knew that I could make a living as an actor.

Growing up, I actually wanted to be a professional baseball player instead of a radio DJ. Believe it or not.

Anytime in radio that you can reach somebody on an emotional level, you're really connecting.

My first commercial was for Miller High Life beer.

But otherwise, music is about a beat and a message.

I probably would be continuing to do voice-overs, continuing to do cartoon shows, and at the same time I'd probably be on a sitcom or a dramatic television show.

My agent said that I was one of the top three busiest people in the country.

I must have done about 25,000 promos.

Before that, they thought talking movies might eliminate radio as well. But radio just keeps getting stronger.

Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.

The stories are success stories. The letters from listeners often touch the heart and can be inspiring.

That something extra, I believe, is a certain humanity that comes from upbeat and positive human interest letters and success stories. Advertisers like to be associated with those qualities.