How Old is Ronnie Milsap? The Life and Legacy of the Country Legend

Ronnie Milsap is one of the most successful and influential country singers of all time. He has won six Grammy Awards, 35 number-one country hits, and sold over 35 million albums. He is also a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry. But how old is Ronnie Milsap, and what is his story?

Early Years: From Blindness to Brilliance

Ronnie Milsap was born on January 16, 1943, in Robbinsville, North Carolina. He was almost blind at birth due to a congenital disorder. His mother abandoned him as an infant, and he was raised by his grandparents in the Smoky Mountains until he was sent to a school for the blind in Raleigh at age five.

There, he discovered his passion for music and learned to play various instruments, especially the piano. He also developed an interest in rock and roll music, inspired by Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Little Richard, and Jerry Lee Lewis. He formed a rock band with his classmates called The Apparitions.

He received a full college scholarship and enrolled at Young Harris College in Georgia, where he planned to become a lawyer. However, he soon realized that music was his true calling and dropped out of college to pursue a career as a singer and musician.

Career Breakthrough: From R&B to Country

Milsap moved to Atlanta in 1964 and joined an R&B band called The Dimensions. He also recorded some solo singles for various labels, but none of them were successful. He then moved to Memphis in 1969 and worked as a session musician for Chips Moman’s American Sound Studio.

There, he met Elvis Presley, who encouraged him to switch to country music. Milsap followed his advice and signed with RCA Records in 1973. His first hit was “I Hate You”, which reached number 10 on the country chart.

He then teamed up with producer Tom Collins, who helped him develop his signature sound: a blend of country, pop, R&B, and rock and roll. He also hired Joyce Reeves as his manager, who later became his wife.

Milsap soon became one of the most popular and prolific country artists of the 1970s and 1980s. He had a string of number-one hits, such as “Pure Love”, “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”.

He also won several awards, including six Grammys, eight Country Music Association Awards, four Academy of Country Music Awards, and three Billboard Music Awards. He was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1976 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2014.

Later Years: From Retirement to Comeback

Milsap slowed down his recording and touring activities in the 1990s and 2000s, as he focused on his family and personal life. He also faced some health issues, such as a heart bypass surgery in 1998 and a hip replacement surgery in 2014.

He announced his retirement from touring in 2014 with a farewell tour called “The Final Tour”. However, he changed his mind and decided to continue performing after receiving positive feedback from his fans.

He also released some new albums, such as “Summer Number Seventeen” (2014), “Gospel Greats” (2016), “The Duets” (2019), and “A Better Word for Love” (2021). He collaborated with various artists, such as Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town, and Luke Bryan.

He also participated in some special events, such as the 50th anniversary of the CMA Awards in 2016, where he performed “Stranger in My House” with Cam. He also performed at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville in 2019 for his 76th birthday celebration.

Conclusion: How Old is Ronnie Milsap Today?

As of August 2021, Ronnie Milsap is 78 years old. He is still active in the music industry and has no plans to retire anytime soon. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest country singers of all time and an inspiration to many artists across genres.

He has overcome many challenges in his life, such as blindness, poverty, abandonment, and health problems. He has also achieved many accomplishments in his career, such as awards, honors, records, and collaborations.

He is married to Joyce Reeves since 1965 and has one son named Todd Milsap (who died in 2019). He lives in Nashville with his wife and their dogs.

Ronnie Milsap is a living legend who has made a lasting impact on the history and culture of country music. He is a testament to the power of music, faith, and perseverance.

According to Wikipedia, The Famous People, IMDb, and AllMusic.

ncG1vNJzZmikmZh6rrHRnJ%2BapqRjsLC5jpuss7Jfnby4ec6lm2aho2K%2FsLrNopxmpZmhwKK8jK2fnmWcnrOmecCnm2aklZyupMWMqJ1mrJiaeqS71Kerq7FdobKosc2dZg%3D%3D