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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMILSAP, Ronnie(b 16 Jan. '46, Robbinsville NC) One of the most popular of country-pop entertainers. Blind from birth, went to State School for the Blind '52, learned to play piano, violin and cello, organized rock band the Apparitions with other students. Attended junior college in Atlanta studying law, working evenings in clubs singing R&B; signed with Sceptor '65, toured with soul acts the Miracles, Bobby Bland etc; first single written by Nik Ashford and Valerie Simpson: 'Let's Go Get Stoned'/'Never Had It So Good', latter a top 20 R&B hit; also 'Denver', written by Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, Jim Webb's 'Old Lady At The Fair'. Recorded for small labels; to Memphis '68 as session singer and musician, still working clubs; met Elvis Presley on New Year's Eve '69, sang harmony on his hits 'Don't Cry Daddy' and 'Kentucky Rain'; signed with Chips Moman's Chips label and had Hot 100 entry with 'Loving You Is A Natural Thing' '70. LP Ronnie Milsap '70 on WB prod. by Penn incl. Kris Kristofferson's 'Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends': new version later on RCA was a hit and WB recycled the tracks. He moved to Nashville and sang for a year with the house band at Roger Miller's King of the Road Motel '72, signing with Charley Pride's manager Jack D. Johnson and with RCA. First country hit was 'I Hate You' '73, with clever Penn lyric; third single 'Pure Love' topped country chart and never looked back: other chart-toppers were '(I'd Be) A Legend In My Time' '74, 'Daydreams About Night Things' '75, 'Stand By My Woman Man' '76 (won Grammy), 'It Was Almost Like A Song' '77, 'Only One Love In My Life' '78, 'Nobody Likes Sad Songs' '79. Ten RCA singles also reached the pop Hot 100 '74-- 82, incl. 'Smoky Mountain Rain' '80, '(There's No) Gettin' Over Me' '81 (no. 5), 'I Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World' '81, 'Any Day Now' '82, all top 40. He took a positive approach, trying to create a happy mood; grateful for excellent education, he has also done much charitable work on behalf of the blind, formed the Ronnie Milsap Foundation. Interest in electronics led to building his own Ground Star Laboratory studio in Nashville, one of the best in the business. In '74-- 6--7 he was CMA Male Vocalist of the Year, also Entertainer of the Year '77. Two-disc In Concert '75 on RCA was made on tour with Glen Campbell, incl. duets with Dolly Parton, much else; Ronnie Milsap Live was recorded at the Grand Ole Opry and was CMA Album of the Year '77; 15 RCA albums crossed over to the top 200 pop LPs '75--91. Lost In The Fifties Tonight '86 had a hit title track, also 'Happy Happy Birthday Baby'; Heart And Soul '87, Stranger Things Have Happened '89, Back To The Grindstone '91 were still on RCA; hit duet '87 with Kenny Rogers was 'Make No Mistake, She's Mine'; last top ten was 'Turn That Radio On' '91. He switched to Liberty '93 (album True Believers) but faded from the charts; he still recorded and toured but country radio no longer played his records. He appeared in NBC-TV movie Murder In Music City. |