Ronnie Milsap Returns to His Roots with New Gospel Album

He is one of the most popular singers in country music history. Ronnie Milsap has had 40 number one country hits, to go along with other top ten hits, and numerous awards. With his latest album, the country great has in this month released his first gospel music recording of his illustrious career and in so doing has returned to his roots. He never wavered from his faith, even though he has never sought to release an album that would publicly share it before. His faith has remained, even though he has had his share of trials and heartaches (and friends who questioned his faith in God, because his blindness has never been healed).

Ronnie Milsap had a number of smash country hits that were also crossover pop hits, including: It Was Almost Like a Song; Smokey Mountain Rain; (There's) No Getting Over Me; Stranger in My House; Any Day Now; and I Wouldn't Have Missed it for the World. Other hits include What a Difference You've Made in my Life; It Was Almost Like a Song; and Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends. His 40 number one country songs put him third to only George Strait and Conway Twitty.

With his latest album, Then Sings My Soul: 24 Favorite Hymns & Gospel Songs, Ronnie Millsap sings about a faith he has always had-even when friends at his church told him he did not have enough faith or God would have healed his blindness.

Songs on the CD will be well known to those who love hymns, including: The Old Rugged Cross; I'll Fly Away; Amazing Grace; In the Garden; and others.

Ronnie Milsap never turned from his faith, despite the many heartaches and trials he went through, even if he only now has released an album of hymns. Milsap was born blind, and as a result, his mother abandoned him. She told him his blindness was a curse from God. To this day, he can remember his father and uncle telling him that his mother did not want him because of his blindness. According to an interview in www.christianitytoday.com, his mother believed being blind was a punishment from God and was a disgrace for her to have to bear.

His grandparents raised him in North Carolina, where they took him to church. It was there that he learned to love and appreciate music, although the radio also increase that love. It was also in church that he learned of God, and he still holds to the roots of his Christian faith today. Unfortunately, however, it was also in church that some in the church (never his grandparents) told him he would be healed if he had the faith as small as a grain of mustard seed, described by the Bible. When he never was healed, despite being taken to faith healing meetings, Milsap said some in the church seemed to abandon him because of his blindness and not being healed.

He also went to a school for the blind and learned from others to cope. He said he learned the skills he would need to survive in the world. He learned to play the violin at six and the piano at eight. He received basic studies, but he also had twelve years of classic training. Being in the school also helped him to feel like part of a group. He says he received great individual attention from the teachers. He says he does not feel angry toward God, because of his blindness, nor toward those who abandoned him.

"Maybe I was a little more benevolent than I should be to others, but no, I never did get angry," Milsap said in the interview in www.christianitytoday.com. "I felt like it wasn't meant to be. It's not my fault, it's not God's fault-it's nobody's fault!"

Milsap was told by different people that blind people often do not succeed as singers. He was also told that because of his great grades he could go to any school. Milsap was planning on being a lawyer. His plans changed after he attended a Ray Charles concert, and the rest is history. After the concert, he was taken to meet Charles. He played three songs for the great singer. Charles told him Milsap could be a lawyer if he wanted, but he had music in his blood, and he should follow where his heart would lead him.

Ronnie actually had a Rhythm and Blues hit with Never Had it So Good in 1965 a pop hit in 1970 with Never Had it So Good. He also played the piano for Elvis on Kentucky Rain and sang harmony for him on Kentucky Rain. His later success as a country star was far greater, however in the 1970's and 1980's.

Milsap hopes his gospel album will reach both his fans and fans of gospel music. He says in trying times faith can help one cope. He is not ashamed of sharing his faith. Maybe by listening to the words he sings on his new album others might begin to understand the importance of faith in trying times.

Citations

Ronnie Milsap, no author listed, overstock.com
Ronnie Milsap, no author listed, answers.com
Blinded by the Light,Andy Argyrakis, christianitytoday.com
Ronnie Milsap, no author listed, wikipedia.org,