Longtime fans fill Milsap audience
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Country singer Ronnie Milsap belts out a tune Thursday night on the grandstand at the Rock County 4-H Fair in Janesville.
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Kelly Fairbairn from South Beloit, Ill., says Ronnie Milsap who performed at the Rock County 4-H fair is her favorite singer.
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JANESVILLE — Lucy Standiford listened to Ronnie Milsap's Rock County 4-H Fair performance on Thursday at the other end of her little sister's cell phone.
The siblings, both Janesville residents, have been big Milsap fans since they were kids, and Christena Dammen has Milsap's autograph from a previous Rock County 4-H Fair.
Standiford didn't attend the 8 p.m. show because she had to work early this morning.
But by 8:20 p.m. she couldn't stand it anymore and rang Dammen. She was still on the phone at the concert's end an hour later.
"He's just so awesome and down-to-earth," Dammen said in explaining their devotion to Milsap. "He actually likes his fans."
"He's a true American," her husband, Mike, said.
Milsap charmed fairgoers—present and not-so-present—with his friendly talk and mix of country music, an Elvis impersonation and even some a cappella doo wop.
Milsap has 40 No. 1 hits, has sold more than 25 million records and has numerous awards, including seven Grammys.
Milsap got appreciative laughter when he joked about his blindness.
"What do you like about the fair?" he asked audience members.
"I like the bumper cars," he said.
Milsap told the crowd that even though his band knows three hours of doo wop, the crowd needn't worry.
"All that finger-snapping," he said. "Could you imagine doing that for three hours and then reading some Braille?"
Opening with STAR power
Jean Schultz came to the Ronnie Milsap show with her sister, Jenny Bianes—not so much to see Milsap but to see her young niece, Jasmine, perform. Jasmine Bianes was a winner the night before in the 4-H STAR Contest. Three winners received $1,000 and the opportunity to open for Milsap.
Schultz figured they'd stay to watch at least some of Milsap's show.
"I love Ronny Milsap," she said. "But I'm really here for Jas."
Jasmine sang her song and later acted as an impromptu back-up dancer for Andreamya Hobson, 26, who won in the adult division. Her rousing performance of "Proud Mary" got the crowd smiling and moving.
Inspiring connections
Mike Helland, formerly of the Janesville-Milton area, was in the audience with his white cane.
He met Milsap 20 years ago at the Rock County 4-H Fair when Helland was 11. Helland, who works at 101.5 radio station in Madison where his radio name is Mike Foster, said Milsap is an inspiration for him because of his music and because he is blind.
"I think if given the opportunity to talk to him now, we'd have a lot to talk about," Helland said. "Just life in general."
Recalling family memories
Dana Seeman was prepared when Milsap sang a medley of some of his No. 1 hit songs.
The night before, the Janesville piano teacher sat in her kitchen, listening to two discs of Milsap's hits.
"I hadn't listened to them for a long time," she said, recalling that her parents in 1975 bought the family 10 country-western vinyl records, two of which were Milsap albums.
Before she knew it, Seeman was singing along to the CD in the kitchen.
"The dogs were like..." she said with a smile.
Jul 25, 2008 at 10:41 a.m.
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Wow - What an awesome concert! I came to watch my niece sing, but ended up staying for the entire concert -Ronnie Milsap was AMAZING!. My entire family loved it, including my 88 year old Father. He was tapping his toes the entire night! Great job Rock County 4H Fair!
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