Too restless and innovative to rest on his laurels as one of the great country music entertainers of all time, Ronnie Milsap continues to evolve.

One of the most versatile and talented performers in country music, Milsap's trademark country-soul voice has earned him 40 #1 hits, six Grammy Awards and the industry's highest recognition – the coveted CMA Entertainer of the Year. He is a classically trained pianist who has mastered such instruments as guitar, violin, clarinet and cello. He has been one of the few country performers to venture beyond the parameters of country music and find mass success in the pop arena.

His smooth voice has been a mainstay on both pop and country radio for three decades with such hits as "Day Dreams About Night Things," (There's) No Gettin' Over Me," "I Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World," "Smoky Mountain Rain" and "Any Day Now." His live shows, known for their spontaneity and diversity, are among the most popular in country today.

Milsap is a three-time CMA Male Vocalist of the Year winner, and a four-time CMA Album of the Year recipient. The Academy of Country Music named him Best Male Vocalist in 1983 and he won Song of the Year in 1986 for "Lost In The Fifties Tonight." He is the recipient of the only gold Braille album ever awarded.

How does country music icon Ronnie Milsap, who has influenced the genre for more than 30 years, top his six Grammys, six Billboard awards, eight CMA awards, three ACM and four Cashbox awards, has had an astounding 40 #1 singles and has sold well over 23,000,000 records. For Milsap, it's easy. He performs a history-making concert, aptly titled Ronnie Milsap: Live, for release on DVD, VHS and CD via Image Entertainment - and heads out in a new musical direction. Enthralled with DVD technology, Milsap says, "The most interesting thing that I've done, and the thing that I'm most proud of ever, is this DVD project. To have a chance to be in this new technology with a DVD that documents my music and the setting of that show - it totally captures it for me. Even though I'm not able to see the DVD, I'm certainly aware of the multi-channel surround sound and what it means for fans."

Milsap and Image Entertainment, long recognized as the market leader in licensing, distribution and production of music video long forms and DVDs, matched their creative strengths to capture this amazing performance, which was recorded in Biloxi, Mississippi, on January 20, 2002. The CD (release date May 21st) clocks in at just under 74 minutes, while the DVD and VHS formats (release date September 17th) offer a generous 91 minutes that balances an intimate view of the sold-out show, in which Milsap and his longtime band include many hits and personal favorites from his prolific career, along with an in-depth interview.

Milsap who produced the new album with Rob Galbraith, regards this title, only his second live album, as a continuation of 40 #1 Hits, released in 2000, and marvels, "This is my first project that we actually mixed on the computer, which is different from sitting in a control room with a big audio console." While the CD hints at Milsap's fresh approach with the standard, "My Babe," the DVD and VHS versions provide a full segment of great American music, such as "My Funny Valentine," "If Not for Me" and "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning," all of which Milsap performs with a few members of his band and a 20- piece orchestra.

"Charlie Callelo wrote some great arrangements," Milsap points out in speaking of the renowned producer (Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, Lorrie Morgan) and original member of the Four Seasons. "He's a real pro, and is always able to deliver something new and fresh.

In defining the new era which Ronnie Milsap: Live represents, he states, "Country music has been really, really good to me, and I've always been in a situation where I wasn't exactly going to stay in one box. I'd do a certain type of record, and I've had my own studio for close to 20 years now on Music Row, and was in a position where I had artistic freedom to look around and try different things. At the same time, I had my hits on country radio, and it's phenomenal to have a career that's lasted this long."

While Milsap continues to be synonymous with country music, he's always been about much more than that, delving into blues, R&B, and even a touch of pop from time to time. Interpreting the standards of George & Ira Gershwin, Rodgers & Hart and Cole Porter is yet another creative and evocative expression for him - and a gift to others.

"I studied classical music while at school in Raleigh. Performing standards is a natural evolution for me," Milsap explains, "While my roots will always be in country music, it's my ambition that around this time next year, I'll be on the jazz charts with a new album. I have so much love and passion for the music. I'm so excited about it."

The past meets the future in the exhilarating immediacy of Ronnie Milsap: Live, and we're all given a front row seat for this rare experience.