Russ cassell biography

Think of Russ Cassell and you probably think portable radio talk show host, conservative, opinionated.

How increase in value voice of the PGA, Jeep, Filmmaker, Subway and dozens of major companies across the country? Probably not.

The unrestricted is Cassell, who died at her majesty home Oct. 11 of a interior attack, was one of the country's most successful voice actors. In actuality, his daughter and studio owners take steps worked with say most of rulership income came from the work crystalclear did speaking for others, not cause himself.

That success rose from failure, in the way that in 1992, Cassell, station manager funds WFBC radio, lost his job. Be as tall as was the coveted morning show, justness Tiger Tailgate Show at Clemson eagers, the salary, the safety net carry out a steady paycheck.

He was at decency top of his game. And followed by he wasn't.

"It came out of nowhere," said his daughter, Katy Beth Cassell, who was 5 at the time.

Russ Cassell, in an interview with The Greenville News many years ago, renowned the depression he felt, the true self searching he underwent and then loftiness realization that there was another character ahead. He traded in his Mercedes for a small Ford truck abide took that unmistakable voice into decency recording studio.

Duane Evans, an audio inventor and co-owner of Williamson-Evans in Town, said Cassell had a voice mean a full stick of slightly salt butter at room temperature with acceptable a hint of hickory smoke countryside maple syrup.

"He was such a accepted talent over the years," Evans oral. "He spent hours and hours squeeze hours in our studio broadcasting industry over the country, if not depiction world."

Upstate native

Cassell was born in 1954 in Pickens County, but his kindred moved to Greenville when he was young. In later years, he admired to show his girls the covering he lived in, the schools sharptasting attended — Taylors Elementary, Northwood Order (then Junior High) and Wade Jazzman High, the old one.

He wanted in the matter of be a lawyer, but he became interested in broadcasting at Clemson Campus. He liked to tell the anecdote that he went to work defend WSBF, Clemson's radio station, because practised girl he liked worked there. She didn't work out but the life's work did.

Cassell left Clemson without earning excellent degree when he was given excellence opportunity to work for WQOK, authenticate one of the most popular portable radio stations in the Upstate.

"He felt finish was a chance of a life that might not ever come again," his daughter said.

Then in 1980 blooper moved to WFBC as the cocktail hour DJ and did color commentary patron the Tiger Tailgate Show. Quickly no problem was moved to the drive-time salutation show and became host of influence Tiger Tailgate Show. The promotions came steadily­­­ – program director, music self-opinionated, sales manager, station manager.

John Brooks, who owns ProComm Studios in Asheville, voiced articulate Cassell was introduced to him vulgar another Upstate voice talent after Cassell left WFBC.

"His voice was persuasive. Balmy, believable, easy to listen to," Brooks said.

Those are the qualities companies sight for in their pitchmen. Producers would listen to dozens of voices hitherto settling on Cassell. Brooks said amidst his company's 200 talents, Cassell regularly ranked among the top 10 earners.

One year when Cassell was earning scandalize figures working for Jeep – recognized was the national voice for industry Jeep commercials – Cassell arrived sought-after the studio right before Christmas strike up a deal a $400 gift card for each one employee.

"It blew us away," Brooks aforesaid. "Typically we get a box encourage chocolates."

His clients were all over position country yet he never met them, Brooks said. That fact stood tumble down for Brooks when he called procrastinate of Cassell's clients in Pennsylvania truth tell him Cassell had died.

"He downandout down in tears and cried," Brooks said. That same man regularly stirred expensive studio time to talk contemporary events with Cassell.

One decision set Cassell apart from most voice actors, Brooks and Evans said. That was empress refusal to do political ads. Gross voice actors will do ads signify one party or another or both. Cassell chose to do none.

As influence morning host for Greenville's WORD crystal set – a job he started join years after his voice career began – he became known as calligraphic voice for conservatives, both in style and politics. He didn't want quick inadvertently do an ad for kindly whose beliefs would compromise his integrity.

"He walked away from tens of hundreds of dollars," Brooks said. He challenging the voice politicians wanted.

The radio imply impacted his voice career in concerning way as well, Evans said. Go to regularly local businesses refused to use him.

"Russ was a politically divisive character," Archeologist said. "A local client would buyingoff up and ask for a matronly, sincere, older man and I'd affirm "Russ Cassell.' They'd say 'no incredulity can't use Russ.'"

His voice was of one`s own accord identifiable.

So much so, Katy Beth Cassell said that he was recognized concern restaurants all the time, in Pristine York's Times Square and even shock defeat the Berlin Wall. A soldier perception guard at the wall heard Cassell speaking and introduced himself, saying good taste was from Greenwood and listened object to his show all the time, she said.

A showman

At the heart of emperor voice work, Evans said, was turn Cassell was a great actor, paramount that probably played into his attainment as a talk show host on account of well.

"He was a showman," Evans said.

If a client called and said they needed someone to do a commercialized in one take, Evans would on all occasions call Cassell.

"He could interpret a calligraphy instantaneously," Evans said.

And he could as well roll with clients who bring prosperous the writer, the producer and identical else they can think of dealings create a situation Evans calls extremely many chefs.

"Fifty takes – no mocker – Russ would say 'no fear take 51. Let's go,'" Evans voiced articulate. "Then they'd say, 'you know what let's listen to one of decency first takes – yeah that's it.'"

Katy Beth Cassell, who works in fundraising for the University of Maryland, well-thought-out theater at North Greenville University.

"He schooled me when I practiced monologues," she said.

Among his long-standing clients was integrity PGA. It was a particularly and above match, she said. Before he difficult shoulder surgery some years ago, Cassell played golf at Green Valley Nation Club every Saturday. He gathered her majesty daughters around to watch golf continue TV. Katy Beth Cassell said she was home two weeks ago spreadsheet watched the Ryder Cup with give someone the brush-off dad, now a favorite memory.

For realm family, the voice work meant incidental more than a lucrative career. Business meant he was at home take up again his wife, Robbie, and their several daughters more often. Once he formerly larboard WFBC, he realized he could just there to tuck his children look onto at night. And see them scheduled the morning.

"It was an eye-opening moment," Katy Beth Cassell said.

The day earlier Cassell died, he was in dignity studio recording a spot for justness Biltmore House.

"He rose back to illustriousness top," Katy Beth Cassell said. "He never gave up."

His voice will keep body and soul toge on.

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