Bob Ferguson (musician)

For other uses, see Bob Ferguson

Bob Ferguson

Robert Bruce "Bob" Ferguson Sr (December 30, 1927 – July 22, 2001) was an American songwriter, record producer who was instrumental in establishing Nashville, Tennessee as a center of country music; movie producer, and Choctaw Indian historian. Ferguson wrote the bestselling songs "On the Wings of a Dove" and "The Carroll County Accident". The "Carroll County Accident" won the Country Music Association Song of the Year in 1969. In 1983, "Wings of a Dove" was featured in the movie Tender Mercies starring Robert Duvall. In 1987, Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) awarded Ferguson with the "million air" plays for the "Wings of a Dove."

The country song "Carroll County Accident", recorded by Porter Wagoner, made No. 2 on the Billboard country singles chart (No. 92 pop) and No. 1 on the Cash Box country singles chart. The tune was also recorded by Wagoner's longtime duet partner Dolly Parton.

Biography

Early life and education

Bob Ferguson was born 30 Dec 1927 in Willow Springs, Missouri, the third son of John Carl and Mary Willie Boles Ferguson. This is in the Ozark Mountains in the southern part of the state.

While in high school, Ferguson was a typesetter at the local newspaper, a fire tower lookout for the U.S. Forest Service, and a member of the Missouri State Guard during World War II. After graduating from high school in 1945, he entered the U.S. Army. He attained the rank of sergeant and served as a radioman for two winters in Alaska. He tested military equipment under Arctic condition. He went on to study at Southwestern Missouri State University.

Early career

After discharge from the Army, Ferguson went out West and worked for the U.S. Forest Service as a fire tower lookout and trail crew boss. He also worked as a laborer in the wheat fields and a typesetter for the newspaper in Moses Lake, Washington. He led the Boy Scout Troop from that city to the Boy Scout Jamboree at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, in 1950.

Ferguson then entered Washington State College, Pullman, Washington, under the GI Bill and earned a BS in Speech. He specialized in radio and television production.

While in college, Ferguson joined a U.S. Marine Reserve Unit. He was called to duty during the Korean War (1950-1952). He served as a corporal in the 3rd Division as a Recruit Company Commander and producer of Marine training motion pictures.

Career

Tennessee Game and Fish Commission

From about 1955-1961, Ferguson worked at the Tennessee Game and Fish Commission, headquartered in Nashville, where he produced films for the agency. In 1960, the North American Wildlife Conservation Association named his production The World Outdoors the "Best Motion Picture of the Year." The World Outdoors influenced many wildlife television shows, most notably Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom series.

While working there, Ferguson also started in the music world. In 1958 he wrote his first multi-million seller song "On the Wings of a Dove". It was recorded by Ferlin Husky. It has since been recorded by many artists and in many languages around the world. It was featured in the movie Tender Mercies (1983), starring Robert Duvall. In 1987, "Wings of a Dove" received BMI's "One million airplays" Award.

Performing with Husky, Ferguson played a character called Simon Crum in The Good Old Days, a motion picture produced by the Tennessee Game and Fish Commission.

Nashville music producer

After graduation from college, Ferguson moved to Nashville, TN, as manager for country music singer Ferlin Husky.

"Tex Ritter once explained that ... It would be impossible to point to just one example of good fortune, or good timing, and say 'Right there was my big break.'"

Burt & Ferguson- So You Want To Be In Music!, 1970

The success of his song "On the Wings of a Dove" enabled Ferguson to turn full time to music. He became a senior producer with RCA Music Corporation, where he helped create the Nashville Sound of the 1950s and 1960s. He served as assistant to Chet Atkins until his retirement. While there, he produced records, many in RCA Studio B. He particularly worked with producing the acts of Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton, and Connie Smith. He also produced records by Floyd Cramer, Danny Davis, The Browns, Helen Cornelius, Lester Flatt, Homer and Jethro, Charlie Pride and many others. With Atkins, he played a major role in the development of what was to become known as the Nashville Sound and elevated Nashville as the country music capital of the world. He also played a major role in developing the Country Music Association. His first successful single was with the Avons.

Ferguson developed a comedy role as "Grandpappy Possumtrot", a name which he took from a crossroad community near his childhood home in the Ozarks. In that role, he recorded his own song, "Eli's Blue", a lament about a man who accidentally shot his coonhound.

Ferguson wrote several other songs, including the million seller, "Carroll County Accident", first recorded by Porter Wagoner. In 1969 it received a Country Music Award for the "Song of the Year". In the 1960s Ferguson also wrote "Natividad", a Christmas song, and "Choctaw Saturday Night", a tribute to Choctaw Native Americans.

Books

Bob Ferguson and Dolly Parton at a RCA Records contract signing.

With Jesse Burt as Co-Author, Ferguson wrote two books: So You Want to be in Music and Southeastern Indians: Then and Now. So You Want to be in Music is a book about the music industry for aspiring songwriting and recording professionals.

Southeastern Indians: Then and Now is a general-interest book about Native Americans of the Deep South, covering the Choctaw, Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, and Seminole tribes.

Anthropology

While working at RCA, Ferguson earned a Master's Degree in anthropology from Vanderbilt University. He served as volunteer Project Director and President of Southeastern Indian Antiquities Survey. He oversaw the survey, recovery and preservation of remains and artifacts unearthed during construction in the Nashville area. One startling discovery was the remains of the first saber-toothed tiger found east of the Mississippi River. It was found during construction of the Regions Center, former First American Bank building, in downtown Nashville. On September 25, 1997, the newly established hockey team, the Nashville Predators, adopted the head of a saber-toothed tiger as their logo.

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians

"In the rich tapestry of American life, ... the southeastern Indian and his brothers everywhere see their own special and beautiful heritage. They are Americans who happen to be Indians and are proud of it.'"

Burt & Ferguson- Indians of the Southeast: Then and Now, 1973

After his retirement from RCA, Ferguson moved his family to the reservation of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians in Philadelphia, Mississippi. There he served as editor of the Choctaw Times, and historian and audio- visual producer for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. In that role, he helped establish the Museum of the Southern Indian (Choctaw Museum) in 1981. He also worked part-time as promotional director of the Chucalissa Prehistoric Indian Village in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1983, he created the foundation for Choctaw Video Productions and created numerous tribal productions.

In 1987, Ferguson established WHTV as local cable service for Pearl River/Philadelphia, Mississippi. He retired from that position in 1998, when he was also named Tribal Historian Emeritus. He established the tribe's organic gardening program.

Robert Bruce "Bob" Ferguson, Sr. died Sunday, July 22, 2001 at 1:05 a.m. in the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. The cause of death was cancer. He was buried at Phillip's Cemetery in rural Neshoba County near Philadelphia, MS. He was 73.

Legacy and honors

Ferguson was the recipient of many awards and recognitions during his multiple careers. He was also a member of Mensa, a society of people with high I.Q.s.

• 1960, the North American Wildlife Conservation Association named his production The World Outdoors the "Best Motion Picture of the Year."
• 1969, "Carroll County Accident", Country Music Award for the "Song of the Year".
• 1987, "Wings of a Dove" received BMI's "One million airplays" Award.

Albums produced

• Just Between You And Me - Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton

• Jolene (album) - Dolly Parton

• The Open Mind of John D. Loudermilk - John D. Loudermilk

• My Favorite Songwriter: Porter Wagoner - Dolly Parton

• Coast Country - George Hamilton IV

• Jerry Reed explores guitar country - Jerry Reed

External links

• CMT's webpage on Bob Ferguson
• CMA's database entry on the Carroll County Accident
• "Bob Ferguson", Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Press Release
• Essay on "The Carroll County Accident"
• "Wings of a Dove" lyrics
• About the song Coat of Many Colors produced by Bob Ferguson
• Postings about Bob Ferguson