Ronnie Milsap is an American country music singer and pianist, born Ronald Lee Millsaps on January 16, 1943. He is renowned as one of the most popular and influential performers in country music during the 1970s and 1980s. Despite being nearly completely blind from birth, Milsap became a versatile "crossover" artist who appealed to both country and pop markets, blending country with pop, R&B, and rock and roll elements. He achieved great success with hit songs such as "It Was Almost Like a Song," "Smoky Mountain Rain," "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me," "I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World," "Any Day Now," and "Stranger in My House." Milsap won six Grammy Awards and scored 35 number-one country hits, making him one of the top country artists in terms of chart-topping singles. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2014. Beyond his musical career, Milsap was born in North Carolina and studied classical music despite his disability. He was encouraged early on by legendary musicians, and his career took off after moving to Nashville in the early 1970s. He continued to release music and perform over many decades, with his final concert held in October 2023 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, marking the end of his touring career. He remains active in recording music. Milsap also had a notable early career as a session musician for artists like Elvis Presley and was involved in R&B and soul music before fully committing to country music. He is respected for his smooth vocal style and musical versatility, and his work earned him numerous accolades, including multiple Country Music Association awards and membership in the Grand Ole Opry. His discography includes 30 albums and 79 singles, with over 35 million albums sold, and he has made significant contributions to country music history and its crossover appeal.
