It Was Almost Like a Song - Ronnie Milsap (1977) 5/29/21

During the '70s, there were several country artists who crossed over to the Pop charts, including Dolly Parton, Eddie Rabbitt. Crystal Gayle, Charlie Rich, Jerry Reed, Anne Murray, Kenny Rogers, and the artist who recorded today's "Great Song of 1977:" Ronnie Milsap!

Ronnie, you most likely know, was born almost completely blind. What you may NOT know is that he was abandoned by his mother and was raised by his grandparents, who sent him to a special school for the blind at age 5.

As a child, Ronnie was influenced by the country, gospel and blues music he heard on the radio, and when he was 7, he began to study classical piano.

Upon high school graduation, he received a full scholarship to study law. But his love music conquered all, and he dropped out of college to join a band.

In 1972, at the age of 29, he met Charlie Pride, who not only invited Ronnie to tour with him, but hooked him up with RCA Records.

Skipping to 1977, Ronnie recorded and released an album called "It Was Almost Like a Song," and the title cut became the first of his many crossover hits, reaching #1 on Billboard's Country chart, but also hitting #7 on the Adult Contemporary Chart and #16 on the Hot 100! In Canada, the matching chart numbers were 12, 6 and 7.

It was a great beginning for an artist who extended his list of crossovers well into the '80s...with songs like "Smoky Mountain Rain," There's' No Gettin' Over Me," and "Any Day Now."

"It was Almost Like a Song" by Ronnie Milsap: MORE than almost like a "Great Song of the '70s!