Carl Kasell
His warm, authoritative voice became the trusted sound of news and laughter for millions of public radio listeners.
1934–2018 (age 84)·American radio personality·Birthday: April 2·The Silent Generation
Biography
Carl Kasell's journey in radio began in his native North Carolina, spinning records and reading the news on local stations. His crisp, dependable delivery caught the ear of National Public Radio, and in 1975 he became one of the network's first newscasters, his voice a morning fixture for a generation. Kasell helped define the sound of a young NPR, bringing gravitas and clarity to major events. In a late-career pivot that revealed his dry wit, he became the official scorekeeper and judge for the comedy news quiz 'Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!' His recorded voice on winners' home answering machines became a coveted prize, transforming him from a newsman into a national touchstone of humor and warmth.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Carl was born in 1934, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Carl Was Born
The biggest hits of 1934
#1 Movie
It Happened One Night
Best Picture
It Happened One Night
Carl's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1934Born
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1939Started school
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1947Became a teenager
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1950Could drive
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1952Could vote
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1955Turned 21
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1964Turned 30
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 40
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 50
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 60
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 70
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 80
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2018Died at 84
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
Key Achievements
- Served as a foundational newscaster for NPR from its early days, shaping its news broadcast identity.
- Became the beloved official judge and scorekeeper for the hit NPR quiz show 'Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!' for over 15 years.
- Recorded thousands of personalized voice messages as prizes for 'Wait Wait' contestants, creating a cultural phenomenon.
- Inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2010 for his lifetime contributions to the medium.
Did You Know?
He began his radio career at age 16 as an announcer at a local station in Goldsboro, North Carolina.
Kasell's first major story for NPR was the 1976 presidential election.
He was a trained vocalist and once considered a career in opera before choosing radio.
The 'Wait Wait' prize of his voice on your home answering machine was retired when he retired from the show.
““This is Carl Kasell, and I am not a robot.””
