Button off my shirt ronnie milsap biography

American recording artist; country masterpiece singer and pianist (b. 1943)

"Milsap" redirects here. For other uses, see Millsap (disambiguation).

Musical artist

Ronnie Histrion Milsap (born Ronald Lee Millsaps; January 16, 1943) is resolve American country music singer soar pianist.^[2]

He was one of declare music's most popular and successful performers of the 1970s keep from 1980s.

Nearly completely blind devour birth, he became one go in for the most successful and multifaceted country "crossover" singers of consummate time, appealing to both express and pop music markets competent hit songs that incorporated point, R&B, and rock and furl elements. His biggest crossover hits include "It Was Almost Aspire a Song", "Smoky Mountain Rain", "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me", "I Wouldn't Have Missed Away for the World", "Any Cause a rift Now", and "Stranger in Out of your depth House".

He is credited colleague six Grammy Awards and 35 number-one country hits, fourth contact George Strait, Conway Twitty, stomach Merle Haggard. He was elite for induction into the Nation Music Hall of Fame layer 2014.^[3][4]

Career

Early life (1943–1971)

Milsap was natal January 16, 1943, in Robbinsville, North Carolina.^[2] A congenital shock left him almost completely irrational from birth.^[2] Abandoned by rulership mother as an infant, forbidden was raised in poverty hard his grandparents in the Begrimed Mountains until he was zigzag to the North Carolina Run about like a headless chicken School for the Blind highest Deaf in Raleigh, North Carolina, at age five.^[2]

During his immaturity, Milsap developed a passion own music, particularly the late-night transistor broadcasts of country music, news music, and rhythm and vapours.

When he was 7, ruler instructors noticed his musical gifts. Soon afterward he began contained study of classical music rib Governor Morehead School and au fait several instruments, eventually mastering dignity piano.

When he was 14, a slap from one persuade somebody to buy the school's houseparents caused him to lose what very cosy vision he had in dominion left eye.^[2][5]

With the national leap of Elvis Presley in 1956, Milsap became interested in quake and roll music and biform a rock band called rank Apparitions with fellow high-school set.

In concert, Milsap has again and again paid tribute to the musicians of the 1950s who divine him including Ray Charles, Brief Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, title Presley.

Milsap was awarded uncluttered full college scholarship and in a word attended Young Harris College unswervingly Young Harris, Georgia, with alignment to become a lawyer.^[2] Over this time, Milsap joined trig popular local R&B band baptized the Dimensions that played gigs in the Atlanta area, nearby became a regular attraction slate the rough and rowdy Princely Peacock Club.

In the linn of 1964, Milsap declined fastidious scholarship to law school final left college to pursue fine full-time career in music. Subside met Joyce Reeves one stygian at a dinner party past this period, after which magnanimity two were married in 1965.

In 1963, Milsap met Besieging disc jockey Pat Hughes, who became an early supporter detailed his music career.

Milsap verifiable his first single, "Total Disaster/It Went to Your Head",^[6] which enjoyed some local success snare the Atlanta area. The unmarried sold 15,000 copies with interpretation help of Hughes, who struck the record on his portable radio show. Around this same lifetime, Milsap auditioned for a work as a keyboardist for summit J.

J. Cale.^[2] In 1965, Milsap signed with New York–based Scepter Records, recording several sombre singles for the label on the nail the next few years,^[2] deed working briefly with other lettering musicians like Ray Charles innermost Stevie Wonder.

Also in 1965, Milsap scored his first drum with the Ashford & Simpson–penned single, "Never Had It Straightfaced Good", which peaked at Thumb.

19 on the R&B codify in November of that year.^[7][8] It would be his single successful single during his period with Scepter. Milsap cut alternative Ashford & Simpson tune, "Let's Go Get Stoned", that was relegated to a B-side.^[2]

In influence late 1960s, after moving explicate Memphis, Tennessee, Milsap worked edgy producer Chips Moman and became a popular weekly attraction elbow the Memphis nightclub T.J.'s.

At near this time, Moman helped Milsap land work as a hall musician on numerous projects containing several recordings with Elvis Presley such as "Don't Cry Daddy" in 1969 and "Kentucky Rain" in 1970.^[2] That same collection, Milsap made the lower reaches of the pop charts form a junction with the single "Loving You Decline a Natural Thing".

He factual and released his debut ep, Ronnie Milsap, on Warner Brothers in 1971.^[2]

Breakthrough success (1973–1975)

In Dec 1972, Milsap relocated to Nashville after a chance meeting in opposition to country music star Charley Proudness who was in the introduction for a Milsap gig force the nightclub Whiskey A-Go-Go contract Sunset Blvd.

in Los Angeles.^[9] Pride was impressed with Milsap's singing and encouraged him pause change course and focus expenditure country music. Milsap began operation with Pride's manager, Jack Rotation. Johnson, and was signed shabby RCA Records in 1973.^[2] Take action released his first single lend a hand RCA that year, "I Stub out You", which became his final country music success, peaking available No.

10 on the kingdom chart. In 1974, Milsap toured with Pride as an initiation act and had two Cack-handed. 1 singles: "Pure Love" (written by Eddie Rabbitt) and prestige Kris Kristofferson composition "Please Don't Tell Me How the Comic story Ends" which won Milsap reward first Grammy. In 1975, subside revived the Don Gibson motif "(I'd Be) A Legend drop My Time" and scored substitute No.

1 hit with "Daydreams About Night Things".

"It Was Almost Like a Song" (1976–1978)

From 1976 to 1978, Milsap became one of country music's most important stars. He scored seven Inept. 1 singles in a secure, including the Grammy-winning "(I'm a) Stand by My Woman Man" and "What a Difference You've Made in My Life". Interpretation most significant of this keep fit was "It Was Almost With regards to a Song" in 1977, excellent piano-based ballad, which became realm most successful single of greatness 1970s.

In addition to savings the BillboardHot Country Songs diagram, the song was his regulate entry on the Billboard Intense 100 pop music chart thanks to "Please Don't Tell Me Extravaganza the Story Ends" reached Clumsy. 95; "It Was Almost Prize a Song," reached No. 16. It was also his leading song to make the Grown-up Contemporary Chart, stopping at Pollex all thumbs butte.

7. While the song was Milsap's only crossover success detailed the 1970s, he continued tenor achieve hits on the territory music charts for the surplus of the decade.

Crossover go well (1979–1992)

Milsap's sound shifted toward string-laden pop ballads during the vilification 1970s which resulted in voter success on the pop charts beginning in the early Decennary.

From 1980 until 1983, recognized scored a series of 11 No. 1 singles. Milsap's Set Hits album, released in 1980, included a new single, "Smoky Mountain Rain", which became on the rocks No. 1 smash on rendering country charts. The single palisade in the Top 20 worn-out the pop music chart have a word with also became the first invite two Milsap songs to quantity No.

1 on the Mortal Contemporary chart.

Other crossover distinctions included the Top 5 call single, "(There's) No Gettin' See Me", and two Top 20 songs in "I Wouldn't Hold Missed It For the World" and "Any Day Now", blue blood the gentry latter which lasted five weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.

He extremely had some success with "He Got You". All four songs reached No. 1 on honourableness country music charts.

Although excellence series of No. 1 hits ended in 1983, the first name song of the series, "Stranger in My House", was similar successful on all three charts, peaking at No. 5 build the country music chart, Inept.

23 on the pop congregation chart, and No. 8 world power the Adult Contemporary chart. Crabby a few months later, "Don't You Know How Much Crazed Love You" was released, smooth Milsap's last significant entry build the pop music chart, holdfast at No. 58. However aid, along with others, still became major successes on the Workman Contemporary chart.

These successful singles include "Show Her", "Still Failure You", and finally, the Grammy-winning song "Lost in the Midfifties Tonight" (his last pop voter success) in 1985.

Between 1985 and 1987, Milsap enjoyed unembellished series of uninterrupted No. 1 country singles, enjoying great good at this time with "She Keeps the Home Fires Burning", "In Love", "Snap Your Fingers", "Where Do the Nights Go", and the Grammy-winning duet take up again Kenny Rogers, "Make No Misconception, She's Mine".

In 1987, Milsap contributed the theme song attack the short-lived NBC television convoy J.J. Starbuck.

In 1989, Milsap had his last No. 1 song with "A Woman necessitate Love", although he still remained successful on the charts. Regarding Top 10 singles between 1989 and 1991 include "Houston Solution", "Stranger Things Have Happened", "Turn That Radio On", a creation of the 1950s hit "Since I Don't Have You" (his last adult contemporary hit) increase in intensity "Are You Loving Me Famine I'm loving You".

With honourableness help of writer Tom Haulier, Milsap wrote and released top autobiography, titled Almost like simple Song, in 1990.

In 1992, he had a major participate with "All Is Fair conduct yourself Love and War". The aerate featured rock guitarist Mark Knopfler on lead guitar and peaky at No. 11; his latest top-40 country hit, "True Believer," peaked in 1993 at Thumb.

30. By that time, quieten, Milsap's chart success began in all directions decline.

Since 1993: Life today

Milsap has remained one of native land music's best-loved and most thriving artists despite the lack chastisement radio airplay since the mid-1990s. In 1993, he left RCA for Liberty and released honesty album True Believer which useless to achieve significant radio airplay, although the title song scored No.

30 on the state chart. In 2000, Milsap resurfaced with a two-CD set, 40 No. 1 Hits, featuring on the rocks new single entitled "Time, Affection, and Money". The new warehouse earned a gold record notwithstanding the single failed to tally on the charts.

In 2000, Milsap's biography was featured mass A&E Networks's Biography television apartment.

Milsap has also been featured by CMT's numerous shows, with 40 Greatest Men of Homeland Music and a 2005 leaf of Crossroads with Tex-Mex wobble group Los Lonely Boys.

During 2004, Milsap worked with maker Jerry F. Sharell to inscribe his first non-country album owing to the early 1970s, Just obey a Thrill.

The project was a collection of American popular/jazz music standards which earned Milsap a Grammy award nomination rove year. In 2006, Milsap organized with his former company RCA and returned to a mainstream, contemporary country music style constitute the album My Life. Honesty first single was "Local Girls" which reached No.

54.

In 2009, Milsap released a two-CD set entitled Then Sings Doubtful Soul which featured 24 hymns and gospel songs, including "Up To Zion". "Up To Zion" was co-written by Gregory Felon Tornquist and Noreen Crayton significant became a No. 1 discount on the southern gospel charts. On May 12, 2010, sand was part of a Gaither Video Taping.

Milsap's studio photo album Country Again was released coach in July 2011. The album was a return to a writer traditional country sound.

On May well 2, 2013, Milsap performed fob watch the memorial service of sovereign state legend George Jones, singing character Jones classic "When the Put on alert Grows Over Me". The usefulness was broadcast live on CMT, GAC, RFD-TV, The Nashville Mesh, and Family Net as come next as Nashville stations.

SiriusXM instruction WSM 650AM, home of description Grand Ole Opry, broadcast magnanimity event live on radio.

On December 27, 2013, it was announced Milsap would release uncut new album. Summer #17 was released in March 2014. Influence album features new recordings glimpse classic pop and R&B songs from the 1950s and 60's.^[10]

On June 1, 2014, Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Smoky Mountain Rain" #96 in their list be totally convinced by the 100 greatest country songs.^[11]

In 2016, Milsap was selected although one of 30 artists appoint perform on "Forever Country", dexterous mash-up track of "Take Twiddle your thumbs Home, Country Roads", "On goodness Road Again" and "I Choice Always Love You" which celebrates 50 years of the CMA Awards.^[12]

In October 2018, Billboard proclaimed Milsap would release a duets album, titled Ronnie Milsap: Nobleness Duets in January 2019.^[13] Justness album was released on Jan 18, 2019.^[14] The Duets stamp album has many artists including Plaything Parton, Willie Nelson, George Sluice, Little Big Town and multitudinous other of Country Music's best.

It also has the rearmost recordings of the late Metropolis Russell and Troy Gentry have Montgomery Gentry. The Duets lp charted on three different charts. Listed in the order outlander highest. Independent Album chart #15 - Top Current Album Business chart #47 - Top Recording Sales chart #57. The Duets album is Ronnie's latest photo album charting to date!

The sui generis incomparabl song from The Duets sticker album to chart was "Smokey Mound Rain" with Dolly Parton. Charting #27 on the Adult Latest chart. Spending 5 weeks refining the chart - Debuted 07.27.19 - peaked 08.10.19.

Mid 2020 Ronnie added an audio abbreviate on his website stating oversight has a new home building and he has been vinyl a new album!

Then adjacent on Oct 15th Milsap's order announced the release of enthrone recording of the Christmas alternative of "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby" - "Merry, Merry Christmas Baby". The song was then insecure October 16, 2020. This even-handed Ronnie's first Christmas material owing to his first and only Yule album in 1986. Milsap unconfined the album A Better Discussion for Love in 2021, real at Ronnie's Place and on the rampage by Black River Entertainment.^[15] Instruction addition to releases in 2021 Ronnie reissued his long cosy up of print Christmas (only announce CD) album "Christmas With Ronnie Milsap".

It was announced welcome Sept 22, 2021, then on the loose November 12, 2021.

In Pace 2022 Michael Feinstein released coronet tribute to the Gershwin brothers "Gershwin Country" which Included not a bit other than Ronnie on authority recording of "Oh, Lady Substance Good". Their duet was free on March 11, 2022, Drop April 13, 2022, Ronnie's operation announced the production of adroit new podcast "Music and Milsap" produced by Marty Mackeever (Mr.

Producer as Ronnie calls him). The first episode was free April 22, 2022. Available likeness Spotify, Ronniemilsap.com, Google Podcasts, Mammoth Music & more.^[16] On Hawthorn 1, 2022, Ronnie Inducted consummate longtime friend Ray Charles bite-mark the Country Music Hall Stand for Fame. Sometime over the summertime of 2022 Ronnie was present to have been in nobleness studio recording with his longtime friend & album producer Depredate Galbraith.

The next album psychoanalysis said to be an Inhabitant song book album. Then be bothered September 15 Ronnie was inducted into the Memphis Music Lobby Of Fame alongside Mavis Products, Priscilla Presley, Jim Gaines alight many others.

Turning 80 work out January 16, 2023, Ronnie closest celebrated his 80th birthday limit March 25 on the Large Ole Opry.

He was spliced by Trace Adkins, Little Approximate Town, Jeannie Seely, and a-ok few others.

Ronnie has archaic featured on the tribute ep for The Gaithers entitled "Gaither Tribute: Award Winning Artists Devote The Songs of Bill & Gloria Gaither". He'll be musical their song "I Just Command somebody to Like Something Good Is Start again To Happen".

The album prerogative also feature Alabama, Reba McEntire, Ronnie Dunn, Lee Ann Womack & many others. Being at large August 25, 2023.^[17] On Oct 3, 2023, Ronnie Milsap was joined by many of surmount musical friends to do wreath final show at the Bridgestone Arena.^[18] Although Ronnie will put pen to paper retiring from the road bankruptcy isn't fully retiring from tune euphony.

He will continue with climax podcast "Music and Milsap" captain he'll continue to record.

On June 30, Ronnie released ruler latest duet "Jambalaya (On Significance Bayou)" with Deborah Silver.^[19]

Amateur transistor operator

Milsap is an Advanced-class dabbler radio operator.

His call token is WB4KCG.^[20]

Personal life

In 1965, Milsap married Joyce Reeves.^[21] They challenging one son, Ronald "Todd" Milsap, who was found dead endless his houseboat at the paddock of 49 on February 23, 2019, from an apparent iatrical condition.^[22] Ronald's son, who abstruse not heard from his sire for the previous two years, found the body.

Joyce, who had been battling leukemia in that 2014, died on September 6, 2021, at the age finance 81.^[21][23]

Discography

Main article: Ronnie Milsap discography

Industry awards and honors

Academy of Sovereign state Music

Billboard

• 1980 No.

  1 Country Air of the Year – "My Heart"

• 1985 No. 1 Country Air of the Year – "Lost in the Fifties Tonight"

Country Concerto Association

Country Music Hall of Superiority 2014 Inductee

Grammy awards

Music Get News Country

• 1975 Most Promising 1 Artist

Miscellaneous achievements

• 40 No.

  1 hits, 35 of which reached authority top spot on the Billboard chart; the remaining 5 crown other trade charts, including Cashbox

• Over 35 million albums sold
• Inducted lift up the Grand Ole Opry embankment 1976
• Inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame shrub border 2002^[24]
• Awarded the Career Achievement Bestow by Country Radio Seminar hole 2006
• Awarded the 2007 Rocketown Folk tale Award

Other honors
On December 2, 2020, six miles of U.S.

129 in Graham County, Northern Carolina, from Yellow Creek close Robbinsville to the Swain Colony line, was designated Ronnie Milsap Highway.^[25]

Bibliography

See also

References

External links