"Like a Trip to Narnia": MPR Superfan Gregg Taylor

May 17, 2017

Gregg Taylor isn't just a fan of Classical MPR. He's a superfan. The Tennessee native has never even been to Minnesota, but in a virtual sense he has made it his home.

Gregg Taylor isn't just a fan of Classical MPR. He's a superfan. The Tennessee native has never even been to Minnesota, but in a virtual sense he has made it his home. He is a hardcore listener to our live audio stream. On social media, he often tweets real-time reactions to Classical MPR and tags our programs, singing the praises of our shows to Twitter followers around the country.

That got us wondering, how did someone from the music-rich state of Tennessee discover a bunch of long-hairs from the frozen north? We decided to ask him.

Q: Hi, Gregg! How long have you been listening to our programs online? A: I have been enjoying the phenomenal world of Classical Minnesota Public Radio for almost four years now. Can you believe it? Wow!

Q: What first drew you to classical music? A: My grandma (the late Neevah Belk) introduced me to classical music at a young age (I think I was five or six at the time). I can remember her playing such beautiful music that literally brought tears to my eyes, and I just had to know what she was listening to. I begged her to tell me all about it. She said it was Franz Schubert's Serenade. Well, as some would say, she lit the torch for my thirst for knowledge.

Q: There are classical music stations across the country; how did you discover Classical Minnesota Public Radio? A: My local public radio station WETS-FM plays some classical music during the day, and then switches over to light jazz. It was fine for a while, but soon became unfulfilling. My need to find a variety of classical music led me to the NPR website which directed me to what is known as, in my opinion, "the greatest gift the gods could ever give to mankind besides life itself" - Classical MPR.

Q: Aw, shucks! What are your favorite programs? A: Performance Today with Fred Child, and Morning Glories with Alison Young are my favorite classical programs. Fred Child has the gift of taking listeners on an epic journey of classical wonders without a passport. It's like a trip to Narnia every single day.