I love to play my music. That's what my heart wants me to do is to play music, and I love doing that when I got my band and my crew and all those folks with me, and that whole thing cranks up; it's really something to enjoy.
— Ronnie Milsap
I was signed to RCA to be a country singer.
I often thought that if I had been working with Mark James at American Studios, I would have had a pop hit before I ever moved out of Memphis. But that didn't happen.
I was an original Elvis fan. He was the voice of my generation. I was listening to him on the radio when he released his great Sun records with Scotty Moore on electric guitar and Bill Black on bass.
I became involved in a residential school for the blind in Raleigh - the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in Raleigh.
I love the 'Delilah' show. I've been listening to it for years and years. It's incredible. She's always got a song for the right occasion. Many people call in, maybe their spirit it a little down, and she lifts them up. She is really somebody special. She's a lifeline to a lot of people.
I had 12 years of classical music as a child, playing piano competitions as a teenager, playing in blues bands and rock 'n' roll bands, country and jazz bands. I played in about any situation.
I learned when I started to study piano that I could play by ear. I could hear a song on the radio a couple of times and hear the song and the lyrics and sing it for you after a couple of plays.
They say love will find a way. I know determination will.
I always know I'm a country singer, and regardless of where I've fallen into different places with my music, I know that, really, I'm a country singer.
When I was doing mainstream country, there was no way that an executive was going to ask you to do a gospel album.
As far as I know, no tapes exist from my years at 'T.J.'s.' I wish they did.
I'm a Christian man that lives it every day, believing somebody will look and live by example.
I was fortunate to be raised by loving grandparents.
Now is now, and I live everything one day at a time. The fact that I'm still on the planet and able to still make music is such a miracle.
When I'm with my wife, I know she's a beautiful woman. I know that, and more than that, it's what she is inside. She's beautiful inside; she loves music like I do. That's the thing that brought us together and probably keeps us together.
I am a Christian. I know I am a Christian, knowing that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.
It's great to have all this stuff at home. But when you want to make it for real, there's still nothing like making music with a bunch of other great musicians in the same room. That's one thing that'll never change.
I wanted to live in Nashville. I wanted to sing country.
I remember my uncle and my father telling me that my mother didn't want me because I was blind. She thought being blind was a disgrace and a punishment from God.
The last time I saw Elvis was when I played my second New Year's Eve show for him in 1970.
I was up playing violin at seven and translating that information to play guitar, piano at eight.
For a long time, I was shy about recording gospel music, because I didn't necessarily want to show the inside of my soul, Milsap revealed. But now, the spiritual side of me is really shining through.
I remember my uncle and my father telling me that my mother didn't want me because I was blind. She thought being blind was a disgrace and a punishment from God. I understand that a lot of young mothers probably wouldn't know what to do in that situation, but over your life you learn to forgive everything.
I don't see here on this side; but I will see on the other side. I know I'll get to see. I know I'll get to walk those golden streets and I'll get to see Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; and I'll get to see the Lord. Oh yes I will.
This business is always changing. If you're going to be a leader, you've got to take chances.
Work for the fun of it, and the money will arrive some day.
