Tom Llamas first stepped into NBC’s Rockefeller Middle headquarters in 2000 as a fresh-faced intern.

The son of Cuban immigrants, Llamas grew up in Miami, the place he continues to have robust ties (pop famous person Gloria Estefan and “Sabado Gigante” host Don Francisco attended a celebration in Florida to have a good time his promotion). He lives in Westchester County, N.Y., together with his spouse, Jennifer, three youngsters aged 12, 9 and 7, and a devoted room for his vinyl file assortment constructed from a decade of crate-digging whereas touring world wide on task.

He just lately spoke with The Instances about his new function.

He’s been married to this job. And so I requested him about that, as a result of my youngsters have at all times recognized me as a community correspondent and a community anchor. However he advised me, “Your life is going to change.” And he defined to me that everybody’s going to desire a piece of you and there’s going to be numerous calls for, much more than you’ve ever skilled.

Oh yeah.

I had my 7-year-old explaining the election to his classmates. He was strolling them by means of when President Biden stepped down and Kamala Harris took over the nomination. Typically it’s powerful. They have been watching that night time throughout Hurricane Milton final summer season when a transformer exploded over my head, and that could be a little scary. There have been some textual content messages and calls to me shortly.

Tom Llamas reporting from Kyiv in March 2022.

(NBC Information)

I can actually bear in mind any time Fidel Castro was going to be interviewed. It was at all times a significant second, proper? I bear in mind my dad and mom watching the interview after which deciding if it was a good interview or not and having an open dialog about that. So I’m listening to about conversations of equity my total life. And I see what it means and the way viewers react to that.

Did that encourage you to enter the occupation?

What made the powers that be resolve that it is best to preserve doing “Top Story” whereas doing “Nightly”?

It was truly my concept.

I don’t assume I obtained this job as a result of I’m Hispanic; I feel I obtained this job as a result of I’m the most effective individual for the job. And I do know that’s what NBC believes, too.

NBC’s Tom Llamas in Rome, overlaying the demise of Pope Francis in April 2025.

(NBC Information)

You’re from the streaming music era, however you’ve a vinyl file assortment. How did that occur?

Ten or 12 years in the past, I went to my pal’s home in Los Angeles and he has a file participant. I feel he performed “Sticky Fingers” from the Rolling Stones. We simply chilled and we listened to the album. And I assumed, “What a great experience.”

Then I spotted the opposite enjoyable half about data is simply discovering them and accumulating them, and attempting to get authentic pressings. I’ve Wilson Pickett data that have been made in Spain. I’ve Beatles data the place the liner notes and the album covers are in several languages. I’ve a room the place I’ve them — it feels such as you’re strolling right into a jukebox. It’s the place I learn the paper typically. It’s the place I put together for giant election nights. I’ll be in there for hours. It’s how I loosen up.

What’s in your turntable for the time being?

I’m in a little bit of a hard-bop part, so I’m listening to numerous Artwork Blakey, numerous Cannonball Adderley. I’ve been looking for nice reside albums. I picked up this nice five-record set from Bruce Springsteen, the run he had within the late ’70s by means of the ’80s. And an important album, which I obtained turned on to, is Elvis Presley’s “From Elvis in Memphis.” He recorded that in 1969, when Jimi Hendrix was taking off and Woodstock was occurring. And it’s only a very nation Americana album with stunning songs. It’s obtained the Memphis Boys backing him.

You may have good style in music.

I respect it.