Above: Mark Rogers (front, right) at The Queen with 2023 Homey Awards winners. Photo by Nathalie Antonov.
By Mary Ellen Mitchell
Mark Rogers has devoted the past 20 years to assiduously promoting Delaware Valley artists and their music through his Hometown Heroes radio show.
According to many of the the artists, the ultimate hometown hero is Rogers himself.
In addition to devoting his time, energy, and passion to Hometown Heroes week-in and week-out, he organizes and hosts The Homey Awards — an annual awards show honoring the best in local music — all while managing a full-time job writing legal journals for LexisNexis.
Every Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m., approximately 10,000 listeners tune in to hear original songs covering a broad range of genres, performed by artists from what Rogers dubs, “The Quad-State Area,” which includes Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
“Whatever kind of music you like, you can find it in the local scene,” he says.
Throughout the week, Rogers considers submissions from local artists to determine which songs to play on Sunday night, and he spends Sunday afternoons preparing for the show.
“I receive so much diverse, high-quality music on a daily basis, that it’s difficult to fit in a two-hour window,” he says. “I always have songs to carry over to the following Sunday night. It’s a great problem to have.”
The show features recorded tracks and, frequently, live, in-studio performances, which add an element of excitement and intrigue. Rogers’ warm, cheerful demeanor complements the music.
He often shares the mic with a guest, takes questions and comments from fans, and conducts polls to gather listener-recommended songs for play on special episodes, which adds to the fun.
Hometown Heroes is broadcast from the WMHS (88.1 FM) radio station at Thomas McKean High School in Pike Creek, where it’s simulcast through WDDE (91.1 FM), an NPR-member station in Dover at Delaware State University, and WMPH (91.7 FM) in Wilmington, at Mount Pleasant High School. The show is also available to livestream at DelawarePublic.org.
Those who missed the show (or want to hear it again) can stream a rebroadcast on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. at DelawarePublic.org, or tune the radio dial to WCHE (95.3 FM and 1520 AM) in West Chester, Pa., on Thursdays at 3 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 p.m.
A Lifelong Passion for Music
“I developed an interest in music in my early teens. I was constantly listening to the radio, playing albums, and making playlists,” Rogers says. “I began attending concerts in college, and my interest grew from there to become a lifelong passion.”
Rogers got his start in radio through an internship at Wilmington’s WSTW while attending Temple University. After graduating from Eastern University, he went on to hold a variety of positions at the station, from advertising scheduler and marketing associate to morning show producer. He also co-hosted an ‘80s music show with DJ Phil Matthews, called The Saturday PM.
“My experience at WSTW helped pique my interest in local music, and once I discovered it, I was blown away by the depth of the talent,” he says. “I began attending more shows at local venues, and soon enough, I was hooked on the local music scene.”
In 2006, WSTW invited Rogers to host Hometown Heroes when the show’s creator and long-time host, “Johnny B.,” moved to a different city. Without missing a beat, Rogers hosted the show for 14 more years, until new station ownership canceled it in 2020, much to the shock and disappointment of legions of fans.
That’s when General Manager Pete Booker and (then) President Jane Vincent of Delaware Public Media stepped in and picked up the show. “When we heard Hometown Heroes was cancelled, we knew we had to bring it back,” Booker says.
Mark Rogers says he receives so much high-quality local music he has difficulty fitting it all into his two-hour show. Photo by Greg Boulden.
“Music is about connections,” Rogers says. Indeed, the music he plays transforms and unites listeners from across the region.
“Mark has hundreds of amazing friendships that began with a connection through music,” Booker says. “No one has done more to support local artists and strengthen our local music community.
“Mark is a humble talent who accepts criticism and deflects praise,” Booker adds. “For him, it really is all about giving local artists a chance to connect with an eager audience.”
“As a musician myself,” Booker says, “I can attest that it’s an incredible feeling when you hear your song played on the radio for the first time. It validates your hard work.”
One of Rogers’ close friends, acclaimed singer/songwriter/musician John Faye, who grew up in Newark and attended the University of Delaware, has been part of the local and national music scene for 30 years. His memoir, The Yin and the Yang of It All, published last year, is an Amazon bestseller.
“Mark is one of the most genuine and kind people I know,” Faye says. “He works incredibly hard to ensure he’s behind the mic every Sunday night doing what he loves. I’m honored to call him my friend.”
Hometown Heroes is sponsored in part by the Delaware Division of the Arts, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.
An Original Homey
“When I took over Hometown Heroes, my radio audience and I missed watching the Grammy Awards that first year, due to the Sunday night time conflict,” Rogers says. “I felt as though we were missing out, so I came up with The Homeys as a fun, satirical take on The Grammys.”
Thanks to the work of local musician Joe Trainor and Gable Music Ventures, The Homeys have evolved over the years into a legitimate local music awards show, featuring live performances, award presentations, and statuettes for winners of categories that closely mirror those featured at The Grammys.
“This area can be a tough nut to crack when trying to find your place as an artist,” Faye says. “The Homey Awards recognize and affirm the standout artists, which are nominated by Hometown Heroes listeners.”
“Wearing a tux, Mark kicks off the ceremony and assists the presenters and artists on stage,” Faye adds.
Local music fans look forward to the popular show every year. “Artists are incredibly pumped when they’re nominated for a Homey Award,” Faye reveals.
The Man Behind the Mic
Rogers is known for his dry wit that reliably puts a smile on the faces of family members, friends and listeners. In 2022, he was inducted into the Delaware Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He’s a diehard Phillies fan and cat lover.
He also happens to have Parkinson’s Disease.
“I try to stay positive,” Rogers says. “My dad set a great example for me and my family when he courageously dealt with health challenges later in life. He was grateful and optimistic, so that’s what I also strive to be.”
In August, Rogers took a hiatus from Hometown Heroes and The Homey Awards to undergo a promising Parkinson’s treatment. In the meantime, his good friend, journalist and podcaster Greg Boulden, who also teaches Audio, Radio and TV Broadcast Engineering at McKean, is filling in as guest host.
Rogers and his team at Delaware Public Media plan to discuss new ideas for the show when he returns.
— Visit HometownHeroesMusic.com and Hometown Heroes Delaware Valley on Facebook.
