Chicago Radio Veteran JoBo Colburn Dies at 70

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, November 24, 2025 | 7:43pm CT

Joe Bannon (JoBo)

Longtime Chicago radio personality Joe Bohannon Colburn -- known to generations of listeners as JoBo -- has passed away at age 70. The news was shared on social media, marking the loss of a prominent voice who helped define Chicago morning radio for decades.

JoBo rose to fame as half of the legendary Eddie & JoBo team alongside partner Eddie Volkman. The duo became morning fixtures at B96 (WBBM-FM), where their high-energy style and on-air chemistry built a loyal audience throughout the '80s, '90s and 2000s.

After leaving B96, the pair briefly reunited on WLS in 2009, filling in for Roe Conn. Their strong reception led to a full-time opportunity, hosting "Eddie and Jobo's Saturday Night Talk Party" from 2010 to 2012.

The pair's storied run reflected the volatility of the industry they helped shape. In December 2012, Volkman and Bohannon were released from their morning show roles at WJMK (K-Hits 104.3) after 20 months on the air. They declined to host a final show but continued to be paid through the remainder of their contracts, which were set to expire in March 2013. It was not the first time they had weathered major changes: in 2008, CBS Radio famously bought out their multimillion-dollar B96 contracts.

For more than 25 years, Eddie & JoBo were synonymous with Chicago radio - resilient, influential, and consistently connected to their audience. Bohannon's passing marks the end of an era for listeners who grew up with the iconic team waking up the city.