Rural Route Music by Bluegrass Johnson 

 

BITTER SWEET, Ky. — One of the sure signs a singer has made a mark in music history is the release of a collection of his or her work – you know like a greatest hits album or boxed set of their musical accomplishments.

Through the years, I’ve seen a number of these. There are few artists who have created so much great music it would command a 21-CD set to handle it, but Ronnie Milsap has done just that.

The release is actually a tribute to the years he spent with RCA records; and let me tell you, Milsap was the hottest country star on the planet during the 1970s and 1980s.

The set was released last November and contains all of the Milsap RCA releases complete with CD sized album covers from those records.

In 2014 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, but Milsap has been known for his ability to cross genres. Many of his hits also appeared on the pop charts; songs like There’s No Gettin’ Over Me, It Was Almost Like a Song, and Smokey Mountain Rain, just to name a few. He has 40 No. 1 hits to his credit along with six Grammy Awards and four Country Music Assoc. Male Vocalist of the Year honors.

While his biggest hits came more than 20 years ago, Milsap has continued to tour and record. He released an album last year titled Summer #17, a collection of older pop, country and R&B songs.

Not that it would have made a difference, but Milsap also became the first big country music star who was blind. I never saw him as having a disability, though. I mean this guy danced on stage and around the piano he plays so eloquently.

I remember watching one of his appearances on the Johnny Carson Show when he told the host of his ability to drive the tour bus.

He is one of those people who didn’t let a disability stop him from achieving all he could; a lesson we could all learn from, I’d say.

By the way, my favorite Milsap song is Lost in the Fifties Tonight, a No. 1 hit in 1985. But it’s hard to pick a favorite; there are so many good Milsap songs. This collection will surely be a must for his fans.

I couldn’t give this great performer anything less than a 100 percent, A+ for all he has done and continues to do for country music.

Bluegrass Johnson comes from a long line of country music performers and enjoys a passion for the rhythm and melody. From the hills of Kentucky, he will offer his opinions on a variety of new country music each week. Readers with questions or comments may write to Johnson in care of this publication.