Jerome “YoJ” Ronquillo, a longtime Houston radio personality whose career at 104.1 KRBE began more than three decades ago, died Thursday. He was 57.
KRBE announced his death Friday, remembering him as “one of the most spectacular, charismatic, and hilarious people that walked our radio station hallways.”
Ronquillo started his radio career at KRBE in 1994. Over the years, his voice reached Houston listeners through on-air shifts, live broadcasts from clubs and commercials. Behind the scenes, coworkers remembered his jokes during meetings, his passion for University of Houston sports and his talent for smoking ribs.
“YoJ was the life of the party,” KRBE wrote. “His one-line zingers during meetings would make us inappropriately crack up every single time!”
In an email to Chron on Friday, KRBE Content Director Leslie Whittle confirmed that Ronquillo most recently served as the station’s production director. He held numerous roles at KRBE throughout his more than three decades with the station.
Friends and listeners remember YoJ
Listeners also shared their memories beneath the station’s announcement. One recalled listening to Ronquillo as a teenager and meeting him at Memorial City Mall during a school field trip. Another remembered tuning in during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Houston media personality Eric Rowe also paid tribute to Ronquillo in an Instagram post Thursday, remembering his friend of more than 20 years for his humor and positive attitude…