Thomas Carballo was an outgoing, energetic, vocal and youngest child of six with a passion for broadcasting at an early age.
He would be known to walk around family parties and speak to the party goers with his pretend microphone in hand. He could be seen asking them, “Welcome (insert name), how are you doing today?”
Now after more than 30 years in radio, Carballo is one of 11 people in the 2025 Radio Hall of Fame Class and they will all be honored at an induction ceremony held on Oct. 30 in Chicago at the Swissotel.
This honor means a ton for Carballo as he is able to enjoy it and share it with so many family, friends, and colleagues.
“It’s humbling, special and a little embarrassing,” Carballo said. “There are people that you know are even better that haven’t gotten that call. It kind of sucks when you are recognized after you’re dead.”
The Palos-Orland Park area native attended St. Michael’s before going off to Marist on 115th and Pulaski for high school.
His first broadcasting came during his high school years when he pretended to be a bit older to get a role working for Jones Intercable, which was the local cable station in Orland Park. He had a show called “Speaking of Sports,” which covered football and basketball and many of the area high schools’ sports programs.
For college, he attended Columbia in Chicago where he soon had an internship at B96. Carballo worked alongside George McFly. There he answered phones and helped run his control board. He later got hired by B96 doing weekend shifts and filling shifts when needed whether it being for them, Hot102 in Milwaukee or some other suburban station.
Following his years in his hometown, at 21 years old, he became Mojo Morales and took a role in Tuscon, Arizona, as an assistant program director and afternoon host before doing mornings at KRQ.
After he got married and began having children, he returned to the midwest to be closer to his family. Carballo took a job in February 2000 in Detroit, dropped the “Morales” from his name, and started his Mojo In The Morning radio show.
In 2020, the show earned the distinction for being the longest FM radio program in Michigan history – it is still running to this day.
That is no easy task which he credits to the people on his team.
“I think the biggest thing for our show has been to surround myself with people that are younger, and that are always in the know,” Carballo said. “My audience has stayed the same.”
Carballo is always interested in trying new things to better his show. They are always trying out new technology, social media ideas, podcasting, and streaming. It does not always work but they will give it a go.
“I would say 70 percent of the things you throw at the wall don’t stick. Maybe 25 percent sticks and the other 5 percent will try again and get it to stick,” Carballo said. “I am a big believer that if you are not going up swinging and striking out, then you never get that game winning hit.”
Over the years, Carballo has talked to everyone from athletes, pop and movie stars to U.S. presidents. But the ones that stand out are the Mojo In The Morning listeners and the greater Detroit community.
“The best people we have on our show is the listener,” Carballo said. “They call us up to share that they have cancer, when they have babies or lost a loved one. We’re the first person they call.”
He recalled a time when a person called into his morning show after their cancer diagnosis and the woman ended up speaking with them on air for 35 minutes that day.
“The average, everyday person trusting us is what made us,” Carballo said. “You know you really are a part of somebody’s life.”
When asked about what next, Carballo still sees his radio work in his present and future.
“Chelsea (his wife) said I cannot retire,” Carballo said. “I am actually about to re-sign another contract in a few weeks.”
Congratulations. Nice to hear your story and your success. Keep up the great work – don’t give up your efforts – you are a part of people’s lives!