Ronnie Milsap

Ronnie Milsap – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Ronnie Milsap (born January 16, 1943) is an American country music legend, known for blending country, pop, R&B and soul. Nearly blind from birth, he amassed 35 No. 1 country hits, won multiple Grammys, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Introduction

Ronnie Milsap, born Ronald Lee Millsaps on January 16, 1943, is one of country music’s most versatile and celebrated artists. Almost completely blind from birth, he rose to become a commanding force in country, pop, and crossover music. His voice, piano skills, and openness to genre fusion allowed him to break barriers and appeal to wide audiences. Over his decades-long career, he earned 35 No. 1 country hits, six Grammy Awards, and ultimately a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

What sets Milsap apart is not only his commercial success, but the way he navigated disability, genre boundaries, and personal trials with dignity and musical integrity. Below is a deeper look at his life, musical evolution, personality, key quotes, and what we can learn from his journey.

Early Life and Family

Ronnie Milsap was born in Robbinsville, North Carolina. North Carolina State School for the Blind and Deaf in Raleigh, where his musical talents were nurtured.

From a young age, he absorbed country, gospel, rhythm & blues, and other genres via late-night radio, developing a broad musical palette.

As a teenager, he lost virtually all remaining vision—an incident when a houseparent slapped him damaged what was left.

He later briefly attended Young Harris College (Georgia) under scholarship, with the intent to go into law, but diverted to music full time.

In 1965, he married Joyce Reeves. They had one son, Ronald “Todd” Milsap.

Career and Achievements

Early Career & Breakthrough

Milsap’s early years included session work and smaller recordings. In 1963, he released “Total Disaster / It Went to Your Head,” which saw modest local success.

He moved to Nashville in December 1972—encouraged by country star Charley Pride, who recommended he focus on country music. RCA Records; his first big country success was “I Hate You,” which reached No. 10 on country charts.

In 1974, he landed his first No. 1 hits with “Pure Love” (written by Eddie Rabbitt) and the Kris Kristofferson ballad “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends.” The latter won him a Grammy.

By 1975, more hits followed, and by the late 1970s, Milsap was among country’s top stars. His album It Was Almost Like a Song (1977) produced the hit title track which crossed over to pop charts (reaching No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100).

Peak Success, Crossover & later decades

During his peak years (late 1970s–early 1980s), Milsap bridged pop and country. Songs like “(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me,” “Any Day Now,” “I Wouldn’t Have Missed It for the World,” “Stranger in My House,” and “Smoky Mountain Rain” became enduring hits.

He continued scoring No. 1s during the 1980s, with both country and adult contemporary crossover appeal. Then Sings My Soul in 2009).

In 2014, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

In October 2023, he performed his final concert (his announced retirement from touring) at the Grand Ole Opry / Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

His career achievements include 35 No. 1 country hits, multiple Gold/platinum albums, six Grammy Awards, and influencing generations of country and crossover artists.

Personality and Talents

Ronnie Milsap is often described as humble, resilient, and deeply passionate about music. Despite his blindness, he never allowed it to define or limit his artistry. He saw music as both companion and expression.

He is a skilled pianist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, capable of interpreting multiple genres—country, soul, R&B, pop, gospel, and jazz. His classical training endowed him with solid technique, while his approach to arranging and interpretation allowed emotional resonance.

Milsap also demonstrated adaptability: as trends shifted in country music, he shifted stylistic approaches but retained his distinctive voice. He embraced crossover potential without abandoning his country roots.

He is also known for being a Christian, integrating faith in public statements, and for his family devotion.

Famous Quotes by Ronnie Milsap

Below are some of his memorable statements, drawn from interviews and published sources:

• “Work for the fun of it, and the money will arrive some day.”

• “Music is not just my passion it’s my companion.”

• “They say love will find a way. I know determination will.”

• “Now is now, and I live everything one day at a time. The fact that I’m still on the planet and able to still make music is such a miracle.”

• “It’s great to have all this stuff at home. But when you want to make it for real, there’s still nothing like making music with a bunch of other great musicians in the same room. That’s one thing that’ll never change.”

• “I remember my uncle and my father telling me that my mother didn’t want me because I was blind. She thought being blind was a disgrace and a punishment from God … over your life you learn to forgive everything.”

• “I am a Christian. I know I am a Christian, knowing that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.”

• “This business is always changing. If you’re going to be a leader, you’ve got to take chances.”

• “I learned when I started to study piano that I could play by ear. I could hear a song on the radio a couple of times and hear the song and the lyrics and sing it for you after a couple of plays.”

• “When I’m with my wife, I know she’s a beautiful woman … it’s what she is inside. She loves music like I do … that’s what brought us together.”

These quotes reflect his humility, faith, perseverance, love of music, and his reflections on struggle and forgiveness.

Lessons from Ronnie Milsap

From his journey, we can glean several valuable lessons:

1. Adversity as fuel, not barrier — Milsap’s blindness did not define him; he used it as motivation to prove his voice and talent.

2. Musical curiosity & flexibility — His openness to genre blending allowed longevity and cross-audience appeal.

3. Patience & persistence — Success took years, but he remained committed through early obscurity.

4. Value collaboration & live connection — His quote about making music with other musicians underscores the irreplaceable power of shared performance.

5. Faith & forgiveness — He acknowledged personal pain (such as family rejection) yet embraced forgiveness and grounded himself in faith.

6. Authenticity over trend chasing — While he adapted, he never abandoned the core of who he was as an artist.