WMMT-FM Radio Host Greg Napier has entertained and inspired folks across the mountains for decades:
first as an athlete, then later in radio broadcasting and event promotion. His year-round-concert series known as "An Evening With" has brought big names in the music industry to perform at Summit City Lounge in Whitesburg. WYMT’s Eric Eckstrom sat down with Napier one week ago and discussed his life and legacy in the mountains so far.

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One of life's great discoveries is finding out what makes us tick: the things that ignite our imagination and teach us who we really are. For Perry County native Greg Napier, that discovery was found in two places: basketball and music.

“I think it was from my father. My dad was a huge basketball fan, but he was also a huge bluegrass fan. In the mornings in my house we would start off with Ralph Stanley, we'd gravitate to Sam Cooke, to The Doors, and at the end of the night it was [Led] Zeppelin,” says Napier.

What blossomed an identity he could share with others: first as a star basketball player at Hazard High School, which included a trip to the State Semifinals, then later as the radio host of “The Rock Show” at WMMT-FM in Whitesburg.

“I’ve had everybody on this radio station from the Ramones, to Deep Purple to members of Motley Crue to Guns N’ Roses,” he said,

Today, folks say his radio and accompanying promotions career is arguably one of the most influential in the region. His “An Evening With” concert series has attracted musicians across the county to Summit City in Whitesburg.

“It’s like this Field of Dreams notion. People come, and the word-of-mouth amongst bands and musicians is that you know ‘go to Whitesburg,’ and they will be there; they will be there,” says The Professor" Mighty Manfred, a stage name for one of the band members of “The Woggles who performed last Wednesday evening,

That notion of dreams came up a lot during my interview with Napier. He says it’s what has fueled his legacy so far, and keeps him grasping for more..

“I’m going to keep dreaming until maybe McCartney shows up, I know that's in my wildest dreams, but that's the way I look at it because I think Paul McCartney would love Summit City in Whitesburg, I believe that and I dream that,” says Napier.

McCartney in the mountains? If it’s possible, folks say Napier will find a way, but not matter the case, they are grateful for their own, homegrown legend of music, right here in eastern Kentucky.
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You can listen to Greg Napier on “The Rock Show on WMMT Sunday evening's from 7pm to midnight.
'An Evening With" Concert Series runs year long. For a list of performances and ticket information, please follow the link attached to this article.