Ronnie fronting the Ron Harwood Band at the Beaver Hall in Edgware in 1982, playing his beloved Fender Thinline Telecaster. Behind him are drummer Tex Marsh and lead guitarist Bill Parkinson playing Ronnie’s Gibson Les Paul Goldtop.

Nashville Bound
It is now 1984 and Ronnie is asked to visit Nashville USA by the Sun Record Company after they heard “You Drive Me Crazy” and liked Ronnie’s songwriting style.

It was there, while working in Ronnie Millsap’s office with Dan Williams and Mike Stewart, that Ronnie met songwriter Michael Black and writer/publisher/producer Tony Hiller for the first time, and also with Bruce Chanel, co-writer and performer of the original “Hey Baby”.

Ronnie also met with Boudleaux Bryant (left), at Rocky Top, the Bryant’s motel in Gatlinburg. Boudleaux, legendary writer for the Everly Brothers and just about everyone else, was someone Ronnie very much admired.

Ronnie photographed in 1984 with Boudleaux Bryant at Rocky Top Motel in Gatlinburg. In 1982, the Bryant’s “Rocky Top” was adopted as Tennessee’s official state song.

On his own and with his wife Felice, Boudleaux wrote some of the most unforgetable popular songs of the 1950s, including nearly all the Everly Brothers’ early hits including “Wake Up Little Suzie”, “Bye Bye Love” and “All I have to do is Dream”, and Buddy Holly’s “Raining in My Heart”. Before the Everlys the Bryants had many hits by artists Eddy Arnold, Carl Smith, Kitty Wells and Little Jimmy Dickens. Boudleaux died in 1987 and Felice in 2004.

Ronnie and son Stuart with Carl Perkins at the Hilton Inn Hotel in Memphis in August 1984. They were guests at the Perkins family table for the Elvis Presley Tribute Banquet honouring Carl Perkins.

Florida Sun Is Formed
After two months in Nashville, Ronnie returned to the UK and met up with Carlo Little again. Carlo wanted to record “If Dreams Come True” and had asked Neil Christian, who had had hits in the 60’s, to handle the vocals. Neil said he loved the song, but when it came around to recording it he became nervous and pulled out. Carlo thus asked Ronnie if he’d take Neil’s place.

Florida Sun was formed as a result of their renewed collaboration, and “If Dreams Come True” was recorded in 1984 and released in early 1985.

The two friends then formed their own label, Sparkle Records, and released three singles in the following three years. “I’m Sorry” and “Don’t Wanna Love Anymore” followed “If Dreams Come True”. All were produced by Carlo Little and engineered by Matthew Fisher in Fisher’s own studio. During this time, producer Ian Summers of Tembo Records heard Florida Sun on the radio. Tembo Records, of Regents Park Road in Camden, north-west London, was owned by hugely successful UK artist Roger Whittaker. Ian approached Carlo and Ronnie for a recording deal, and an album and singles deal was subsequently signed with Tembo Records.

In 1987 an album was released featuring Florida Sun’s fourth single “Hurt”, an old Timo Yuro cover. This was followed by another single from the album, “Honey Be”, written by Ronnie. They received good airplay, particularly in the Liverpool area, and this attracted so many calls to the radio station wanting to know more about the band that they were asked to tour. They played the New Brighton Theatre in Wallasey, selling out the two nights, before going on to play the Liverpool Empire.

Ronnie with record producer Ian Summers (centre) and Wally Scott, producer of the Billy Butler radio show on Radio Merseyside. This photo, from 1987, was taken during the radio promotion of the Florida Sun album - pictured above is the CD album cover.

Meanwhile, back in North London, Ronnie’s North West Aerials business was still going strong. Ronnie grafted in all weathers, always hoping for gales and high winds as these were very good for the aerial business! During 1987, Britain suffered one of its most infamous storms. The extreme winds brought down countless hundreds of trees, and an unknown number of aerial masts. Ronnie’s phone never stopped ringing during that time!  more