There are still some practitioners of the art of being a music radio personality.
And yes, I think it is an “art!”

I think of our own Big Joe Henry – not just someone playing records on the radio – but an entertainer.

And much beloved by his audience.

So when I heard of the news yesterday morning of the passing of radio legend Casey Kasem, I thought immediately of what it was to be a music deejay.

And whether or not the art form (still, as I like to think of it) is fading.

I posted this on my Facebook page and got a ton or responses:

Folks like Casey Kasem elevated being a music jock to an art form! The first voices we heard coming out of the radio were very likely music deejays. Who was your absolute favorite?

Hard for me to pick just one...but I'd have to go with Bobaloo and Dan Ingram on WABC - Frankie Crocker on WBLS - and I'm sure there are a couple others floating in my head. Like Dandy Dan Daniel on WMCA, Ron Lundy on WABC, and a little known disc jockey on WWRL named Hank Spann.

What with music stations today largely emanating from computers thereby eliminating the disc jockey – and the fact that a good many personalities are heard all over the country (see Ryan Seacrest) - thereby eliminating the local element – I’d say it’s a rhetorical question to ask the above.

But think back (in many cases, not too long ago) when you used to listen to your favorite station – who were the disc jockeys that captivated your imagination?

The ones who were the entertainers – who spoke to you, and were into the music they played?

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