Chords for Ronnie Milsap - Pioneer Award ACM Awards 2002

_ To present tonight's Pioneer Award, which is going to an all-time legend,
please welcome three legends in the making, Tracy Lawrence, Joe Diffie, [G] and Mark Chestnut.
_ _ _ [F] _
_ _ [C] _ _ [D] _ [G] _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ [N] _ The tradition of the Pioneer Award is to keep the artist who gets the award a secret
_ _ till it's revealed on the show.
_ So for the last few months we tried real hard to keep the secret.
Then this week someone took out an ad in a trade magazine
congratulating tonight's Pioneer Award winner.
_ So chances are our nominee tonight already knows he's our nominee.
_ That's honoree, not nominee.
So Ronnie Millsap, even if you do know, that doesn't make you any less deserving.
That's because as everyone in this room knows, you are a legend in your time.
[C] I'd be a [F] legend _ _ _
[G] _ _ in [C] my _ _ _ time. _ _ _ _
[N] In telling Ronnie's story tonight, every song you hear is going to be one of his 40 number one hits.
_ _ [Bm] _ _
_ [D] _ _ [G] _ _ Wouldn't have [C] missed it for [Am] the world.
Because he was blessed with [D] so much [B] talent, I guess it was his fate [Em] to be tested early [G] on.
Nobody likes that song.
He was born in Robbinsville, North Carolina without [C] sight and into grinding poverty and [Em] abuse.
He was rejected by his mother and at age six was sent to a state [C] school for the blind.
_ [D] _
_ [C] _ [Bb] It was rough, but young Ronnie took comfort in practicing his piano and [Gm] listening to [C] all kinds of music on his radio.
Lost in the [F] 50s tonight. _ _
[Gm] A miracle of miracles, this child prodigy's talent and sweet nature saw him through into young [Ab] manhood and a [G] career in music. _
And what do young men [A] think about?
Pure love.
But only Ronnie could [G] play and sing about it so well.
It [F] became the [D] first of those number one hits.
[G] _
_ This [Gbm] number one earned him one of his five grand.
[E] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I [A] can daydreams of last night things.
[D] This was from the first of four [A] albums of the [G] year.
[Gbm] _ [Db]
And Ronnie has always put on a great [Am] show.
[G] _ _ [C] _ _
[Am] _ _ [F] So who says he can't sing?
_ _ [Dm] _
_ [Bb] This number one came out while he was the entertainer of the [C] year.
It was for his one and only love, his wife [Bb] Joyce.
And only [C] one love in my [F] _ life.
[Em] _ _
_ [Bb] _ _ [F] _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
[N] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ Well Ronnie, that song clearly describes your feelings for Joyce.
There's one other song about her, one of your biggest hits.
But tonight we're going to use it to tell how everyone feels about you and your [B] music. _
[Dbm] _ _ _ _ _ [Gb] _ What [B] a difference you've [Ebm] made in my life. _
[E] What a difference you've made in [Fm] my life. _
[B] You're my sunshine day and [Abm] night.
What [Dbm] a difference _ you've made in _ _
_ _ [Gb] my [B] _ _ _ _
[Abm] _ _ _ _ [E] _ _ [Gb] _ _
[B] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ [N] _ _ _
life.
Ladies and gentlemen, [B] Ronnie Melton! _ _
[Dbm] _ _ _ _ _ [Gb] _ _ _
[B] _ _ _ _ [Ebm] _ _ _ _
[E] _ _ _ _ [Fm] An amazing 40 [B] number one hits.
Over 30 albums.
[Abm] 7 Grammy Awards.
11 [Dbm] ACM and CMA Awards.
And now, the Pioneer [Gb] Award.
_ _ _ [B] _ _ _ _
[Abm] _ _ _ _ [E] _ _ [Gb] _ _
[B] _ _ _ _ _ [N] That's Ronnie. _
Oh _ _ goodness. _
I _ love you. _ _ _
_ _ _ _ I love you. _
God _ _ _ _ _ bless you.
Thank you so much.
You know, somewhere around 30 years ago, I met Charlie Pride in Los Angeles.
And he said, come to Nashville.
_ And I certainly appreciate that.
So many people have been responsible for making this happen.
I saw my good friend Joe Galati out here.
He expanded my career more than I ever believed would be possible.
Jerry Bradley signed me to the RCA.
There's a couple of _ producers that have really helped me along the way.
Tom Collins and Rob Galbraith. _
Thank you so much.
My friend Tony Conway and all the folks over here at Buddy Lee Attractions.
Thank you very much.
_ And of course, hey Todd?
Where are you man?
This is my son Todd.
Come over here.
_ _ Where are you? _ _
_ _ _ Todd is _ _ _ my production manager out on the road.
And he makes the show successful and fun too, man.
We've got a great band out there.
Thank you guys and the band and the crew.
And Joyce, thank you so very much.
My wife Joyce.
36 years we've been married.
My goodness. _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ Yeah. _ _
Thank you so [Abm] much again for this award.
I love you.
Radio, thanks for playing [N] my records.
There's so many other folks I'd love to thank.
_ The fans.
God bless you.
Hey.
Your support and encouragement.
Alright baby.
Thank you.
_ What a night to remember.
[C] _ _ _ [Bb] _ _ [F] _
_ [C] _ Please [F] welcome a member of the winners [G] tonight for