
Over the next two decades, Milsap fused pop, classic rock, soul, R&B and country to create a signature sound celebrated all over the world. Though many credit today’s country music stars like Luke Bryan with pioneering country pop, Milsap was the first to crossover successfully in 1979. Since then, Milsap has found crossover success. Milsap went on to become one of the country’s biggest stars, earning seven No.1 hits in a row between 19. Milsap was signed to RCA Records in 1973, and released his first country music hit “I Hate You.” The song peaked at No. Pride encouraged Milsap to focus on country music and put him in touch with Pride’s manager. The Meeting that Changed it Allĭuring a gig at the Whiskey A Go-Go in 1972, Milsap met country music star Charley Pride. Moman helped Milsap get a ton of work as a session musician, including several with the King himself, Elvis Presley. In the late 1960’s, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee and began working with famed producer Chips Moman.
A LIST OF RONNIE MILSAP SONGS FULL
Milsap quit school to pursue music full time. “I was playing some songs at a piano in his dressing room,” Milsap said in an interview, “And said, ‘well, it sounds like that’s where your heart is, and that’s what you should follow.’ That sounded to me like an endorsement from Ray Charles.” In fact, during one such gig, none other than Ray Charles encouraged him to pursue his passion. His R& B group The Dimensions played frequently at the Royal Peacock Club in Atlanta. He intended to become a lawyer but still played music on the side. Milsap earned a full college scholarship and attended Young Harris College in Young Harris, Georgia. He was notorious for playing Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard when he was supposed to be training on classical Beethoven and Mozart. His instructors began to notice his musical talent as early as 7, and Milsap began classical music training on many instruments, most notably the piano. Then, they sent him to the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in North Carolina. His mother abandoned him as an infant to his grandparents, who raised him in the mountains until he was 5. Milsap was born almost completely blind from birth. His birthplace edged the Smokey Mountains, the rural region that produced other country legends like Jimmie Rogers, Chet Atkins, and Dolly Parton. For those of you asking “how old is Ronnie Milsap?” he is 75 years old and still performing and recording to this day! Milsap seemed destined for musical greatness from the start. Ronnie Milsap was born on January 16, 1943, in Robbinsville, North Carolina. Ronnie Milsap was one of the most influential country artists of the 70’s and 80’s, but his story began much earlier than that. Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2014.Inducted into Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1990.4 Academy of Country Music trophies, including Pioneer Award for Lifetime Achievement.40 #1 Country Hits (coming in third to George Strait and Conway Twitty).Since the 60’s, Ronnie’s long and fruitful music career has made him an icon, too.ĭuring his career pushing the boundaries of country music and expertly infusing it with pop, rock, R&B, classic soul, Milsap has earned the following: Elvis Presley, Ray Charles and Charley Pride are just a few of the iconic figures woven into his long music career. In his lifetime, he’s played for, sang with and brushed shoulders with some of the most iconic figures in American music history. Ronnie Milsap is a pioneer in country music, with a celebrated career spanning decades.
