Tom Morello

Morello in 2010, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Thomas Baptiste Morello

Place of Birth: Harlem, New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Birth: May 30, 1964

Ethnicity:
*father – Kikuyu Kenyan
*mother – Italian, Irish

Tom Morello is an American musician, guitarist, singer, songwriter, actor, and political activist. He is a member of rock band Rage Against the Machine, whose other members are Tim Commerford, Zach de la Rocha, and Brad Wilk; of rock supergroup Audioslave, whose other members were Commerford, Chris Cornell, and Wilk; of rap rock supergroup Prophets of Rage, with B-Real, Commerford, Chuck D, and Wilk; and of rap rock supergroup Street Sweeper Social Club, with Boots Riley. He is also known as The Nightwatchman.

His father, Ngethe Njoroge, was born in Kenya, and served as Kenya’s first ambassador to the U.N. His mother, Mary Rose (Morello), was an American of Italian and Irish descent. His parents met in August 1963, while attending a pro-democracy protest in Nairoby, Kenya. After discovering her pregnancy, Mary returned to the United States with Njoroge in November, and married in New York City. When Tom was sixteen months old, Njoroge returned to his native Kenya, and denied his paternity of his son. Tom was raised by his mother in Libertyville, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

His aunt, Jemimah Gecaga, was the first woman to serve in the Legislature of Kenya. His uncle, Njoroge Mungai, was also a Kenyan politician. Tom’s paternal great-uncle, Jomo Kenyatta (born Kamau wa Muigai), was the first elected president in Kenyan history. He served as Prime Minister of Kenya, from 1 June, 1963 to 12 December, 1964, and President of Kenya, from 12 December, 1963 to 22 August, 1978, his death.

Tom is married to Denise Luiso, with whom he has two children.

Two of Tom’s paternal great-grandparents were named Muigai wa Kung’u and Wambui.

Tom’s maternal grandfather was John Baptist “Bab” Morello (the son of Quinto Nicolao Morello and Rosa T. Mussatto/Musatto). John was born in Illinois, to Italian parents. His ancestors came from Pratiglione, Province of Turin, Piedmont, Italy, and from Vesignano, in the commune of Rivarolo Canavese, also in Province of Turin. Tom visited the town and found that his Morello line can be traced back to Giovanni Morello, who moved to Illinois in the mid 1800s. Tom’s great-grandfather Quinto was the son of Carlo/Charles Morello and Teresa Cavelletti.

Tom’s maternal grandmother was named Gladys I. Fitzgerald. Gladys was born in Illinois, and had Irish ancestry.

Sources: Information about Tom’s Italian ancestry – http://lasentinella.gelocal.it
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Tom’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Tom’s maternal grandfather, John Baptist “Bab” Morello, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org