He has influenced the country music genre for more than 30 years.
Six Grammys, six Billboard awards, eight CMA awards, three ACM
and four Cashbox awards and an astounding 40 number one single
hits with over twenty-three million records sold. Quite an impressive
career!
Born into dire poverty in the Appalachian town of Robbinsville,
North Carolina, Milsap’s mother viewed her newborn’s
blindness as punishment from God. Shortly after his first birthday
he was cast off and given to his grandmother to raise. At age
six, he was put into the Morehead State School for the Blind
in Raleigh, and the young boy faced barbaric disciplinary treatment
all through his grade school and high school years.
All along the sightless child took refuge in music and the radio.
Morehead put him through strict classical music training, a program
that was heightened after the young boy showed an innate talent
of a prodigy. At the same time he obsessively listened to the
radio, especially the late-night programs of country music, gospel
and rhythm and blues.
Those duo pursuits- demanding classical study and an intensive
pop-music obsession- served Milsap well. By age 20 he released
his first single “Total Disaster” on Princess Records.
By 1965 the young blind pianist and singer was recording for
Scepter Records in New York. His first single “Never Had
It So Good” was a top five hit on the Billboard soul chart.
In 1972, he decided to take a regular gig at the King of the
Road hotel in Nashville, a music industry hangout. He became
friends with music publisher and record producer Tom Collins,
as well as hooking up with heavy weight artist manager Jack Johnson,
who also worked with Charley Pride. In 1973 the blind singer
began a long-lasting association with RCA Records.
Today, his 40 number one hits stand as a testament to his success
and staying power. Only the late Conway Twitty scored more country
hits than Ronnie.
Ronnie Milsap is the fifth concert in the Bill Heard Chevrolet
Summer Concert Series scheduled at the Fayetteville Villages
Amphitheater. Reserved seats are available for $30 in advance,
and lawn seats are $25. Tickets may be ordered by phone by calling
Fayetteville’s Main Street at 770-461-6029. Visa, Mastercard
and American Express, cash or check are accepted. Gates will
open at 7 p.m.
