Iconic radio personality Casey Kasem, died Sunday. He was 82.
Danny Deraney, publicist for Kasem’s daughter, Kerri, says Kasem died Sunday morning. A statement issued by the family says he died at 3:23 a.m. surrounded by family and friends.
Kasem’s “American Top 40” began on July 4, 1970, in Los Angeles.
The show continued in varying forms—and for varying syndicators—until his retirement in 2009. In his signoff, he would tell viewers: “And don’t forget: keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.”
Succeeding him at the main “American Top 40” show in 2004 was multiplatform star Ryan Seacrest, who has said he had been a fan of Kasem since boyhood and would imitate him in pretend countdown broadcasts at age 9.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.