One of my favorite all time songs is “Wings of a Dove.” I also have tremendous admiration for the artist who made the song possible – Ferlin Husky. Sadly we lost Ferlin to congestive heart failure on March 17, 2011 at the age of 85.
I had the honor of meeting the Country Music Hall of Famer some years ago in Branson when I came in to make an appearance for the Ernest Tubb Record Shop. That day there was a gathering, a “who’s who” if you will, of country’s favorites who called Branson their performance home – Boxcar Willie, Ferlin, Jim Owens, among others.
I enjoyed a nice visit with Husky then and in 2008 had the chance to speak with him by telephone at his home in Missouri for an in depth interview.
Even in his 80s, he still enjoyed performing and singing. More than 20 million records sold among them “Gone,” “Wings of a Dove,” “A Dear John Letter,” and “Country Music is Here to Stay,” performed by his alter-ego Simon Crum.
Husky recalled in our visit that he and musician/writer Bob Ferguson wrote the “Wings of a Dove” together although he let Ferguson have all the writer’s credits because Ferlin published the song.
“It took me five years to get it recorded,” he said. Ken Nelson, A and R Man at Capitol [Records] in Nashville, said people are not buying those religious type songs. It won’t sell.
“Every time I’d record, I’d bring it up,” he said. “Finally he said to me one day, ‘You keep talking about that song, if you want to. Do it, but you will be history.”
Husky gave up the notion and went on to try to get others to record it to no avail.
Finally, five years later he was able to slip it into a session when a missed plane connection kept Nelson from a session.
The song was released as the B-side of what Nelson felt was the hit “Next to Jimmy” but the B-side prevailed. When it came to his hit “Gone,” Ferlin put his own special stamp on the song as he envisioned an old time gospel sound on the song.
Using the Jordanaires and Millie Kirkham along with the musicians the studio quickly
filled. Nelson warned Ferlin, “‘You’re out of your mind. If one more person walks in, the session is off.’”
Even though it was his second try at recording “Gone,” he first recorded it under the name Terry Preston with the Cliffie Stone Band, this time he was going to do it his way and he did and made the song a hit.
Ferlin had the attention of the television leaders throughout his career often appearing on the biggest shows of the day Ed Sullivan, Steve Allen, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin, Dean Martin and the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. He even replaced Arthur Godfrey on his show in 1957 and his comedic alter ego Simon Crum made millions laugh.
“I had an eighth grade education. Someone from the country where I was raised on the farm and get to replace the man that was the giant in television – known as one of best pitch men in business,” he said. “Of all the announcers for them to pick me to do his summer replacement in 1957.”
He also appeared in about 18 films and serials like the “Durango Kid” during his time on the west coast.
Husky said all in all his life allowed him to fulfill all the dreams he imagined as a boy on the farm near Flat River, Mo.
“I have been blessed. God’s been awful good to me,” he said.
I always looked forward to my visits with Husky. It is sure on March 17 that God sent His love to Ferlin on the Wings of a Dove. To find out more about Husky, visit ferlinhusky.com.
Randall Franks is an award-winning musician, singer and actor. He is best known for his role as “Officer Randy Goode” on TV’s “In the Heat of the Night” now on WGN America. His latest CD release, “An Appalachian Musical Revival,” is by www.shareamericafoundation.org. He is a member of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame. He is a syndicated columnist for http://randallfranks.com/ and can be reached at rfrankscatoosa@gmail.com.