Erik Deatherage, Morning Show Host and Senior Producer

Erik started hosting WTMD's Morning Show in October 2005. As a kid growing up in Columbia, MD, his early radio influences included Jon Miller broadcasting Orioles games and the seminal playlists of original 99.1 FM WHFS.

Erik lived in England during a fertile time in music that formed the his core tastes, including artists such as The Police, The Clash, Peter Gabriel, The Jam, and Kate Bush.

A love for flying put Erik on his first career path and he enrolled in aviation programs at Catonsville Community College and the University of North Dakota. While in Grand Forks, ND, Erik signed on as a news reader with KJFM, Northern Lights Public Radio. Later, he hosted an afternoon drive, free-form, alternative, acoustic show at the station.

After graduating from UND, Erik returned to the east coast and worked in the airline industry before joining WTMD as a weekend host. It may seem cliché but it’s true that meeting TMD listeners and supporters, is Erik’s favorite part of the job!

John Mathews, On-Air Host

John's radio career started in 1984 and it has taken John to locales as diverse as Cincinnati and the Outer Banks in North Carolina. (Locally, John could be heard on WRNR and 98 Rock in the mid-1990s.)

He joined WTMD in December 2006 as the afternoon host. In May 2008, John opened the TMD Roadhouse, playing a wide mix of blues every Friday night from 7 to 10 p.m.

John's musical memories include sitting with friends by Pennsylvania's Connoquenessing River, listening to Neil Young’s “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere” and racing to see Santana on the “Beyond Appearances” tour at the Syria Mosque.

He enjoys WTMD's musical diversity and the knowledge and feedback from its listeners.

Tyler Laporte, Programming Assistant and On-Air Host

A recent graduate of Towson University, Tyler worked at the student radio station, XTSR, as an on-air host. He joined WTMD during a junior-year internship, learning the basics of working at a radio station and becoming an expert at stuffing and sealing envelopes for the station’s membership department. Tyler became a part-time employee in the summer of 2006, serving as an on-air host during nights and weekends.

Born and raised in Delaware, Tyler was bit by the radio bug listening to local radio stations as a kid. He decided to pursue a career in radio after visiting a country station in his hometown for a high school career day.

He will always hold a place in his heart for the First State but now resides in Baltimore City. In his free time, Tyler enjoys going to see live music, paying for the occasional over-priced trip to the movies, sampling a good bottle of wine, reading and, of course, watching The Wire.

Melissa Lauren, Weekend Host

As a youngster, Melissa Lauren was sent to her room after misbehaving and had to listen to 10 songs on the radio as "punishment." Needless to say, it was a rough childhood. She became obsessed with music!

Melissa was a music major and a DJ at University of Maryland’s station, WMUC 88.1 FM. She later attended the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland, and landed a an on-air gig in Annapolis. Melissa has also worked doing research and marketing for radio stations across the United States, promoting and booking local bands, producing specialty radio programs, and engineering live in studio performances.

She joined the WTMD family in May 2008. Check out Melissa Lauren’s custom-blended music from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Don Rogers, Evening and Weekend Host

Don has two passions in life. One is his love of futbol (soccer, for the masses) and the other is music. When he is not cheering on Manchester City or attending a D.C. United game, he is listening to music, playing music, or watching a band at a local club.

Don started his radio career at Salisbury State University's WSUR in 1992. He got an internship at 93.5 WZBH is Georgetown, DE which led to his first paying radio gig where he worked weekends for a while, then became a member for the morning show The Morning Flakes as the "whippin’ boy".

He got out of radio for a while to pursue other interests, but later realized radio and music was a passion for him. One day he was on WTMD's website and saw they were hiring. He put together an aircheck (audition) tape and sent it in. The rest is history in the making.

If you see him out, I’m sure he will share a pint or two with you, talk music, and educate you on soccer if you are interested.