Nashville Anthems: Dissecting 80s & 90s Country Music

Dissecting "Smoky Mountain Rain" by Ronnie Milsap

March 04, 2024
Nashville Anthems: Dissecting 80s & 90s Country Music
Dissecting "Smoky Mountain Rain" by Ronnie Milsap
Show Notes

We take a ride with a legend in his prime in this episode on Ronnie Milsap's 1980 classic "Smoky Mountain Rain". The connection to Elvis's "Kentucky Rain" is multifaceted and deep, but how does this song use theatrical drama to color its image of a country music cliche?  And what happens when you ask Ronnie Milsap to make the thunder roll?

Here a couple of videos that are referenced in the episode:
Smoky Mountain Rain on Austin City Limits: https://youtu.be/p0ZpytVUElU?si=5K88u9cBUqbjPUGl
Source of the Elvis story: https://youtu.be/0I7v2zx6ttM?si=Jyv22w9sJ34dPhwx