Ronnie Milsap's track record speaks loud and clear: 40 No 1. hits charted, more than 25 million records sold, seven Grammy Awards to his name and countless other accolades earned. His impact on country music in the 1970s, '80s and '90s includes crossover hits such as "It Was Almost Like a Song," "Smokey Mountain Rain," "I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World" and "Stranger in My House."

Like everyone else, Milsap couldn't wait to hear that first record on the radio to kick off his career. Below, the country legend shares that moment with The Boot:

Well, I'm old school. I was living in Atlanta, Ga., going to college, and I had recorded a record. I was working in studios, just trying to play on sessions and go to radio stations and play with tape recorders.

They first played [my record] on WQXI in Atlanta, and I was sitting home in my little apartment. I just jumped up and screamed -- opened the door and yelled! I could not believe it the first time I heard it on the radio. I was absolutely thrilled, as I am today.

It was a song called "Total Disaster." That was back when I was 20.

This story was originally written by Pat Gallagher, and revised by Angela Stefano.

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