Coleman : Kasem was `` tastemaker '' before era of streaming and downloading . Kasem 's `` America 's Top 40 was n't gatekeeper but a conduit for popular songs , he says . Hear him once and he became Casey : familiar , somehow . Casey Kasem says Casey Kasem 's show was accessible ; his voice upbeat , not smarmy . Kasem an iconic voice of common-denominator music during divisive time , he says .
Coleman : Kasem was `` tastemaker '' before era of streaming and downloading . Kasem 's `` America 's Top 40 was n't gatekeeper but a conduit for popular songs , he says . Casey Kasem says Casey Kasem 's show was accessible ; his voice upbeat , not smarmy . Kasem an iconic voice of common-denominator music during divisive time , he says .