Post by Ms. Kathy on Jun 21, 2004 3:37:13 GMT -6
This entry is from the Ronnie Milsap web site at www.ronniemilsap.com.
Ronnie Milsap
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 early on showed the 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.
Ronnie in High School
Those duo pursuits -- demanding classical study and an intense pop-music obsession -- served Milsap well. By age 20, he released his first single, "Total Disaster," produced byHuey Meaux on Princess Records. By 1965, the young blind pianist and singer was recording for renowned Scepter Records in New York. His first single, "Never Had It So Good," written by Ashford and Simpson, was a top five hit on the Billboard soul chart. He went on to record R&B-styled songs in Houston and Memphis for a variety of labels, including Warner Bros. and Reprise in 1971 and 1972.
Even then, the talent was obvious; it just wasn't getting heard. The turning point came when Milsap moved from Memphis to Nashville on December 26, 1972, to take a regular gig at the King of the Road hotel, at the time a top music industry hangout. He became friends with music publisher and record producer Tom Collins, who would work on Milsap's initial Nashville demo recordings as well as produce his early hit albums. He also hooked up with heavyweight artist manager Jack Johnson, who also worked with Charley Pride. In April 1973, the blind singer began a long-lasting association with RCA Records. His 40 No. 1 hits stand as a testament to his success and staying power as a country artist; only the late Conway Twitty scored more top country hits, and his included many duets with Loretta Lynn.
Ronnie Milspa 1975
Ronnie Milsap Live in Branson - Smokey Mountain Rain
Ronnie Milsap
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 early on showed the 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.
Ronnie in High School
Those duo pursuits -- demanding classical study and an intense pop-music obsession -- served Milsap well. By age 20, he released his first single, "Total Disaster," produced byHuey Meaux on Princess Records. By 1965, the young blind pianist and singer was recording for renowned Scepter Records in New York. His first single, "Never Had It So Good," written by Ashford and Simpson, was a top five hit on the Billboard soul chart. He went on to record R&B-styled songs in Houston and Memphis for a variety of labels, including Warner Bros. and Reprise in 1971 and 1972.
Even then, the talent was obvious; it just wasn't getting heard. The turning point came when Milsap moved from Memphis to Nashville on December 26, 1972, to take a regular gig at the King of the Road hotel, at the time a top music industry hangout. He became friends with music publisher and record producer Tom Collins, who would work on Milsap's initial Nashville demo recordings as well as produce his early hit albums. He also hooked up with heavyweight artist manager Jack Johnson, who also worked with Charley Pride. In April 1973, the blind singer began a long-lasting association with RCA Records. His 40 No. 1 hits stand as a testament to his success and staying power as a country artist; only the late Conway Twitty scored more top country hits, and his included many duets with Loretta Lynn.
Ronnie Milspa 1975
Ronnie Milsap Live in Branson - Smokey Mountain Rain