Evrod Cassimy grew up in Rockford, IL, and is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago. He is a seven-time Emmy-nominated weekday morning news anchor and reporter for NBC 5 Chicago. He can be seen on NBC 5 News from 4:00 AM to 7:00 AM CST. He just commemorated his three-year anniversary, joining the station in November 2022.
Cassimy spent nine years as a morning anchor at WDIV Local 4 in Detroit, and now co-anchors the morning news alongside Michelle Relerford, Alicia Roman, and Kye Martin. In addition to broadcasting, he appears on the NBC Chicago streaming channel from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
Cassimy is also an accomplished singer and songwriter who uses his music to support community initiatives. He has raised over $150,000 for charity through his songwriting and music sales.
His latest album, Mister Cassimy (released August 2025), was named in honor of his father. Proceeds from the album directly benefit the Chicago Housing Authority‘s (CHA) “Springboard to Success” program, which helps youth in public housing pursue higher education.
Evrod has opened for major acts like Boyz II Men and Patti LaBelle, and has performed the national anthem at Chicago Sky WNBA and Chicago White Sox games.
N’DIGO is excited to share this interview with its viewers, and we wish Evrod Cassimy continued success in his media and music career.
N’DIGO: Tell me about your journey into media.
Evrod Cassimy: I have always liked writing. When I was in 4th grade, I wanted to write books. I would type up the stories, add photos, create artwork, and assemble the book. The first book was “Mike Jones Runs for Class President.”
I was running for president of my grammar school in the 5th grade. We learned about politics. My platform was better snacks in the vending machines and longer lunch hours. The slogan was “Evrod for President, Avoid an Accident.”
When did you know you could use your voice to have an impact?
I am nosy by nature. I can keep a secret, but I want to know everything. In high school, I chose to be a journalist. My mother pushed me toward journalism because she suggested I could interview and ask questions. I could write.
I attended Columbia College in Chicago. I wanted to stay in Chicago. I found an internship at NBC and worked with Art Norman. He is my mentor. I follow his footsteps. I grew up in Rockford, Illinois. I majored in Broadcast Journalism. Anna Davlantis was a weekend anchor, and I shadowed her and Art one day a week. This was my hands-on experience.
Tell me about your singing career.
I started singing in church at 3 years old. I love singing. I don’t know life without it. That led to local competitions, and I won many of them. I was on “Showtime at the Apollo,” which took place at the Chicago Symphony. We played to a packed house, but I did not win. It was a fun experience. I sang “You Got It Bad” by Usher.
How do you combine media, storytelling, anchoring, and music? How do you manage so many elements?
I make time for them as the schedule allows. Music is a hobby. Early on, I signed a contract for a television job with my fiancée and my now-wife. We were driving, and we packed and sold everything. Halfway through the trip, I was offered a job, but they did not want to hire me because I sang. I sing at weddings and funerals. It was a problem for me at 24. The new employer made me promise never to sing again. They did not want to hire a singer. I had to deny singing. I had to remove all references to singing. I wanted the job. I was about to be married and needed the job, so I lied about singing.
I was asked to sing at a Christmas party at work, and that led to my first studio album. I have recorded a Christmas album of songs from a Christmas party.
In 2018, my first studio album was released after receiving airplay on the radio. I posted the song on Facebook, and radio stations began asking to play it on air. I raised $1000, and it all benefited charity. Today, that amount is $200,000 for charity, thanks to the different concerts I have had over the years. My parents were educators, and I donated to a school in Detroit. It is an amazing grammar school that produced talented people like Diana Ross, Big Shawn, David Allen Grier, and Kenya Moore.
I raised money for this outstanding school in Detroit. The money grew significantly. Today, I have partnered with “Springboard to Success” in Chicago, and the proceeds from my music go to the charity. I raised $50,000 and gave away 5 scholarships last year. We also gave $1,000 to others for Christmas presents.
News is changing. How do you navigate?
I write… Writing is therapeutic. Music and writing are emotional. I channel music and writing into my expression of emotions.
What has been for you the most significant news story that you have covered?
Art Norman had a segment called “Art Norman’s Chicago.” It featured people in our community. What I saw while grabbing a sandwich or visiting a grocery store was how people stopped him. People gravitated to him because he shared stories that impacted them. The stories I found most impactful were those in which I got to meet everyday Chicagoans and saw how I could affect change in their lives with my pen.
The series I did was “Making a Difference.” These were stories of resilience. One story was about a 22-year-old woman. Her mother had been shot and killed, and she suddenly had to take care of four people. Watching how that story brought the community together and how people wanted to donate to help her in her difficult situation. These are the stories that matter most to me. I am trying to make a difference. We gave her $1,000, but she raised much more from the community. A story can change a life.
What advice would you give to the next generation of journalists?
Have tough skin. The media is 24 hours, have tough skin with the stories that you cover. You will have tough stories to cover. Stories are not all about beautiful butterflies. Secondly, you’ve got to love to write. Be unapologetic as you search for the truth in your question. Love to write until you don’t write anymore. Adapt to the times, from digital to AI. You have to use these tools. Never give up. It took my career 16 years to get back to the Chicago market.
Who’s your favorite singer?
Hands down, Usher. My favorite female singer is Brandy.
Define success.
Success is happiness. I am able to get up at 1 am and do what I love. That is happiness to me.
You can watch Evrod Cassimy weekday mornings from 4:00 AM to 7:00 AM CST on NBC 5 News Chicago.
Streaming: You can stream live broadcasts from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM via the NBC Chicago website or the NBC Chicago app.
Follow Evrod Cassimy across these platforms for news updates and highlights from his music career:
Instagram: @evrodcassimy
Facebook: Evrod Cassimy.com
X (Twitter): @EvrodCassimy
Official Website: EvrodCassimy.com
