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Published on Birthplace of Country Music (http://www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org)

Ronnie Milsap

Ronnie Milsap

(Singer, Songwriter, Keyboards, Violin, Guitar, Woodwinds)

Ronnie Milsap has been one of the most enduring performers in the Pop-Country charts for over twenty-five years.

Ronnie grew up with his father and grandparents following the breakup of his parents marriage. Born blind with congenital glaucoma, from age five he attended Governor Moorhead School for the Blind, studying music from the age of seven. He was grounded in the classics and considers his early influence to be Wallace Greaves, his first violin teacher, who worked with him for eight years. By the time he was eight, Ronnie had mastered the violin and piano, later adding guitar, all keyboards, string instruments, percussion and woodwinds.

Ronnie started his own Rock group while at school. He studied pre-law at junior college and won a full scholarship to Emory University, but chose music instead. He formed his own band in 1965 and at about this time made his first records for Scepter, staying with the label until 1970.

In 1973, Ronnie moved to Nashville, signed a management deal with Jack D. Johnson and also made contact with Tom Collins, then Vice President at Pi-Gem records, who would play a major part in Ronnie’s career as producer and provider of hit material.

Ronnie’s first single reach the Top 10 on the Country chart and in 1974, he became a major act when all three of his hits reached No. 1. From then on, he had a string of hits including seven consecutive chart toppers.

In addition to his dozens of No. 1 hits, Ronnie is also winner of numerous awards, including six Grammy Awards for "Best Country Vocal Performance, Male". He won the CMA "Male Vocalist of the Year" in 1974, 1976 and 1977 and was named their "Entertainer of the Year" in 1977. He won the award for "Best Album of the Year" four times and received the 1982 "Top Male Vocalist" Award in 1982.

Five of Ronnie’s albums have been Certified Gold and he has one Platinum and one Double Platinum, and his Video collection Great Video Hits has also been Certified Gold.

Recordings include:

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