Ronnie Milsap’s autobiographical story, as described in his book, “Almost Like a Song” (1990) is a true life account of the American dream. Since the book was written 16 years ago, Ronnie has continued to be a success and major influence in the music industry. He is a tremendous inspiration to anyone facing challenges, as we all do.
Milsap did, in fact, face many obstacles, but in his early years, it was because of those obstacles that he became a very self-sufficient individual. Life on his own, as a young man, came naturally, and was fun for Ronnie. He soon began to accomplish his life-long dream of having a career in music. With a lot of life still to experience, Milsap has seen life from two different extremes. Always remaining grateful for success, he hopes to provide inspiration, and touch the lives of many.
From the time he was born, Ronnie Milsap was confronted with numerous challenges. Many times, willpower was all that he possessed. He learned early in life that giving up was not an option. Milsap was born virtually blind.
On the day after his first birthday, his mother abandoned him. Since his birth, she had been consumed with the idea that she had fallen into disfavor with God, and as a result, God had punished her by giving her a blind child.
Left in the care of his father and grandparents, Milsap lived his early years in a four-room cabin high in the steep mountains of rural North Carolina. Despite living in poverty, he was surrounded by much love and protection. His grandmother became his mother, always keeping things neat and orderly. This was something that provided much security for a blind boy who always needed things in their proper place. He learned to work hard and not to feel sorry for himself.
At the age of five months, Ronnie had been diagnosed as blind, with “light vision” in the left eye. This meant he could not see forms, but could, at times, detect light very slightly. As a child, he always had hope that a cure for his blindness would be discovered. His thoughts were ruled by strict Baptist teachings. He was taken to church three or four times each week. His relatives and fellow church members assured him that if he believed in God, he would someday be given his sight.
Although they did not have many possessions, Milsap’s family never thought of themselves as poor. Milsap first heard recorded music on his grandfather’s small battery-powered radio. His Grandma, Phenia, began to notice how quickly he memorized words to the songs and how he could always sing on key. Phenia, is credited with spotting his musical talent. Milsap was also quite intrigued by the touch of the radio. He would take it apart and put it back together again.
At the age of six, Milsap, along with his well-meaning family, embarked on a long trip to the place where he would spend the next 13 years of his life: The North Carolina State School for the Blind. The school is now known as The Governor Morehead School for the Blind. The people in Milsap’s life, who had always been there for him, left him at this school, without first discussing the possibilities of going there, or the advantages of this type of education. He felt heartsick and very betrayed that every detail had been planned and executed without him having any prior knowledge of what was to take place.
The Governor Moorehead School provided superb academic training with an exaggerated emphasis on discipline. Milsap soon became accustomed to the regimented lifestyle. He slept in a dormatory and ate in a dining room. There were, however, cruel houseparents on staff. These were minimum wage workers who were not a part of the school faculty. Extremely abusive practices haunted Milsap and his friends for the many years they remained at the school. The children never reported these actions to the administrative officials. They were constantly threatened and afraid of what would happen to them.
Besides the academic excellence, at the school, Milsap received the best of classical music training. He was a serious violin student by the age of seven. He learned to play twelve instruments in all, the piano being his favorite. Later, when he began have performances, the piano, being the largest instrument, was easy for him to find. (On stage, in his concerts, he pivots from the piano when he walks or dances).
In Milsap’s autobiography, Milsap describes what he calls his “most life-altering incident.” When he was fourteen, he was struck hard in his “light-vision” eyeand knocked to the floor by one of the school housefathers. The doctors insisted that his eye needed to be removed. Of course, Ronnie refused the surgery for as long as possible since consent would mean giving up on the only hope he would ever have to obtain his sight. Finally, not able to withstand the pain any longer, Milsap gave his permission to have the eye taken out.
After the loss of his eye, Milsap began to concentrate even harder on his music. Though he had been trained in classical music, Milsap and his friends began performing rock ‘n’ roll. This was a new type of sound on the horizon at that time and not well-received by the strict narrow-minded administrators at the school. Ronnie and his musical pals had to sneak around to play songs by Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis. They even set up and operated a campus radio station that none of the school officials knew about. Soon, it would be time for high school graduation. He had become a man and had been well-prepared to strike out on his own.
Soon after graduation, Milsap enrolled at Harris Young Junior College in northeastern Georgia. He had received a fall scholarship because of his grade point average at Governor Moorehead. College did a great deal for Milsap’s self-image and self-confidence, however, all the while he was attending college, he longed for a career in music. In August, 1962, during a break from school, he traveled to Nashville to record his first demonstration tape. He took copies of his tape to all the major record companies in Nashville. With repeated rejections, and everyone telling him he had no chance, Milsap returned to school. He would not return to Nashville for eleven years when he then began performing for large audiences.
Within a short time, Milsap would be experiencing some significant changes in his life. After spending two years studying pre-law, he decided not to continue his college career. He declined a law scholarship to pursue his aspiration as a singer and musiction. Milsap was becoming quite popular in the Atlanta area, where he regularly played many prestigious nightclubs and theaters. This led to the signing of his first five-year contract in April, 1965, with Sceptor Records.
During this time of tremendous breakthroughs, Milsap met a woman named Joyce one evening at a dinner party. The two were drawn together instantly and after an engagement of one year, they were married. Later on, Milsap’s life was even more enriched by the birth of their son, Todd.
Milsap, his loved ones, and his large crew travel throughout the United States to perform. Among many honors and awards, Milsap has been named CMA Male Vocalist of the Year on three separate occasions. Tunes like “Smokey Mountain Rain,” and “Almost Like a Song,” will remain in the lives and hearts of all who have come to know Milsap’s musical talents.
Milsap continues in his career with even more rewards and challenges to come. Milsap expresses in his book that he is extremely grateful for the prosperity with which he has been blessed. The values instilled in him as a boy, will remain a part of his life. He hopes to influence others to persevere through difficult times and never to give up on a dream.
Reference:
- Milsap, Ronnie, Tom Carter. Almost Like at Song. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1990.Whitburn, Joey. ; Billboard Book of Top 40 Albums. Broadway: Billboard Publications, Inc. 1987.White, Adam. ; Billboard Book of Gold and Platinum. Broadway: Billboard Publications, Inc., 1990.For more informaionL Google: Ronnie Milsap
