WMOT FEATURED UNDERWRITER Regional Radiology & Dr. Melvin Rapelyea Cookeville, TN
Story by Amy Taylor
“I'm in love with this diverse art form that I grew up hearing in my home, that I saw my parents dance to, that I heard my father sing, that described and prescribed your feelings, that allowed so many types of musicians to express themselves and this art form that just created the biggest wave of provocative music around the world. From "Casablanca" to "2001 Space Odyssey," jazz just fits it all,” says Cookeville’s Regional Radiology’s Dr. Mel Rapelyea of his reasons for underwriting with Jazz 89.
Dr. Rapelyea describes his beginnings as a Jazz sponsor: “I began a jazz festival in Chestertown […] primarily as a fund raiser and secondarily because of so much talent in the area and the great venue on the river. It has survived 9 years [and] it was mentioned in an article in Southern Living about Chestertown a few years ago.”
Dr. Rapelyea and his associates, jazz lovers as well, were recruited here as Radiologists for Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Upon relocating to Nashville, Dr. Rapelyea discovered WMOT, and he adds that the 24 hours a day programming is a definite plus. As a routine supporter of the jazz stations in the Baltimore/Washington area, Dr. Rapelyea contacted WMOT about a local Jazz festival that he had in the works; the event has occurred twice since then.
Dr. Rapelya concluded of his experience as a Jazz event planning and as an underwriter with WMOT that, “People who attend these events are pleasant, articulate, decisive, fun and generous. (This last generalization is just that. I have not taken any polls.) Jazz lovers know what they want and I think they would pay attention to announcements for expert medical services.”
Amy Taylor is a student-professional at WMOT and an English major at MTSU. |
Dr. Rapelyea began his relationship with Jazz as a young musician, playing trumpet and cello in his youth. He has also dabbled a bit in piano playing, but his main attempts to spread the art form have been his works as a devoted jazz aficionado. He began his promotion of jazz music by producing nine years of
the “Chestertown Jazz Festival” on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and two years of “Jazz in Cookeville” here in Tennessee. He remains dedicated to these events and is currently working on soliciting a major sponsor for both events.