Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind will partner with American country music icon, Ronnie Milsap, who will headline their November 3rd benefit concert at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas. Celebrating their 85th anniversary, Dallas Lighthouse will utilize proceeds from “An Evening with Ronnie Milsap” to benefit the more than 150,000 people who are blind and visually impaired, served by Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind in 11 North Texas counties. Dallas Lighthouse offers training, tools and resources to those who are blind and vision impaired in order to enhance their independence.
The evening of Thursday, November 3rd, will be a heartwarming celebration of Dallas Lighthouse’s 85 years of service to the North Texas community. The announcement of blind performer, Ronnie Milsap as the musical guest has special significance to the supporters of Dallas Lighthouse. With six Grammy Awards and 40 No. 1 country hits, pianist, singer and songwriter Ronnie Lee Milsap is one of country music’s most popular and influential performers.
Milsap, born with a congenital disorder and shunned by his mother who believed his vision impairment was punishment from God, lost all vision by early childhood. At the age of seven, his musical talents were discovered and he began classical training. Young Ronnie learned several instruments, and skillfully mastered the piano. Milsap later became country music’s first successful blind singer, and a talented “crossover” singer, appealing to country and pop markets with hit songs such as “Smoky Mountain Rain”, “No Getting’ Over Me”, “I Wouldn’t Have Missed it for the World” and “Stranger in My House”. In 2014, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
“Music is the guiding light of my life. I am a living testament to the power of music and its restorative qualities. The opportunity to perform for the 85th Anniversary Celebration of Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind is a true honor. Although I have been fortunate enough to receive many gracious awards and accolades, it still humbles me to know people appreciate my gift.”
~Ronnie Milsap
Hugh McElroy, CEO of Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind, said, “We are thrilled to be working with someone who is so closely related to our mission of serving the blind and visually impaired of all ages in our North Texas community. We offer a myriad of resources to enhance the independence of those needing our services. With the national average unemployment rate for blind and vision impaired workers exceeding 60 percent and 30 percent of blind households in the United States living below the poverty line, our mission has never been more vital nor the stakes higher for all the blind and vision impaired residents of North Texas who need our help. Ronnie Milsap knows more than anyone how rewarding it can be for someone who is blind or visually impaired to have a purpose and reason to work every day.”
Ticket prices range from $35 to $150 and can be purchased at http://www.ticketdfw.com/whats-on/2016/ronnie-milsap/
For more information regarding Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind, please visit: www.dallaslighthouse.org