By Lara Akl, Communications & Marketing Manager at House of Lebanon
(Los Angeles, CA) — He is known as the iconic voice of American radio. For decades, Casey Kasem brought millions of listeners together across the country through his nationally syndicated countdown radio show American Top 40. With his warm unique voice, he was able to connect on an emotional level and build distant relationships with millions of followers.
House of Lebanon is saddened by the loss of not only the iconic radio legend, but also the Lebanese American figure, whose legacy brought pride to the Lebanese 
and Arab American community. Becoming a famous legendary radio host and a national American figure, Kasem never forgot about his Lebanese heritage. His cultural background influenced his presentational style as a radio host, was present in his children’s upbringing, and incented him to become a passionate advocate on Lebanese Americans and Arab Americans causes.
As a radio presenter, Kasem was known for short stories he told in between songs during his show. People not only excitedly awaited to learn the number one song, but they looked forward to listen to his feel-good narratives. Kasem used storytelling in his show drawing on his Lebanese background and upbringing. “I was drawing on the Arabic tradition of storytelling one-upmanship,” he told the New York Times in 1990. “When I was a kid, men would gather in my parents’ living room and tell tales and try to outdo each other. I couldn’t understand the language, but I was fascinated…. I was doing trivia before anyone was doing trivia.”
On a family and personal level, Kasem was a proud Lebanese American. Born in 1932, Kemal Amin “Casey” Kasem was the son of Lebanese immigrant parents. He was raised in Detroit, Michigan, and had a large extended family. As a Lebanese American father, he wanted his children to learn about their background. Interviewing his daughter Kerri Kasem on March 5, 2014, she told House of Lebanon how “growing up, we used to go spend our summers in Michigan and Detroit with my grandparents. I, my brother, and my sister were surrounded by our large extended Lebanese family. As a family, we regularly gathered around Lebanese food, played cards and danced.” She finished by saying how “family and cultural ties are extremely important for my father. He wanted us to learn about our heritage, our Lebanese Druze culture, and where his family came from. He wanted us to keep attached to our roots.”
Kasem wanted his culture, history, and heritage to be known to everyone. That’s why he supported a Lebanese American organization like House of Lebanon and foresaw the value of establishing the first Lebanese American Cultural Center in Los Angeles. He showed his commitment to our cause by donating to House of Lebanon several times. “We are deeply saddened to lose an active figure like Casey Kasem,” expressed Judge James Kaddo, Chairman of House of Lebanon. “He was a man of conscience, a humanitarian, and an advocate not only for the Lebanese American Community, but also for the Arab American community as a whole.”
As a Lebanese American public figure, Kasem advocated for Arab Americans cause. He was against American mainstream media’s depiction of Arab Americans. In James Zoghby’s words, president of the Arab American Institute, “no one has done more in Hollywood to challenge the negative stereotypes of Arabs in the media than Casey.” Kasem promoted the accomplishment and contributions of Arab Americans. He wrote a brochure published by the Arab American Institute entitled “Arab-Americans: Making a Difference.”
Casey Kasem will be greatly missed. Our condolences to all of his family and children. House of Lebanon is committed to continue working hard on establishing the first Lebanese American Cultural Center that Casey Kasem supported.
About House of Lebanon
House of Lebanon is a non-profit organization located in Los Angeles. Its mission is to preserve, communicate, and celebrate Lebanese heritage and culture.
For more information visit www.houseoflebanon.com
Lara Akl is the Communications and Marketing Manager at House of Lebanon.
