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Me performing "Flyer Song"

For years I’ve had the pleasure of playing with Casey Kelly and Todd Cerney at the Balsam Mountain Inn. We’ve played shows at all different times of the year, and we’ve never missed a New Years Eve.

It was late one August evening in 2005 when I met Fred Tollison at our Balsam show. He introduced himself to me at the merchandise table at intermission.

I had just played “Flyer Song” (see the “Flyer Song” video) before the break and he wanted to buy a copy of my CD if that song was on it. I asked him if he’d like it signed and he said, “Yes, sign it to ‘Jim’” then went on to tell me about his friend Admiral James O. Ellis, Jr.; a retired 4-star admiral and former Commander of the United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base. Jim, his wife Polly and Fred’s wife Sarah Belle were all there with him in the audience that night had been touched by my song.

Admiral James O. Ellis

Fred said that his friend Jim was the third most senior officer in the Navy and that as a pilot, had had over 800 carrier landings.  Jim had just retired from 30 years in the Navy. I said, “Wow. I’m astounded by his achievements and I hope he enjoys the CD”. Fred looked at me and said, “I didn’t buy it for him. I bought it for his wife, Polly, who just retired from 30 years of living your song”.

James and Polly Ellis

Captain Fred Tollison

The next time I saw Fred was about a year later – back at Balsam – and that’s when he mentioned that he himself had served in the Navy as a Submariner and started getting on my case about writing a version of the “Flyer Song” that would go, “I won’t ask my baby not to dive”. (I think it should be said that Fred, Sarah Belle, Casey and I had struck up a friendship and could joke around with each other easily!)

Every time Fred and his wife graciously came to support Casey, Todd and me we had the same conversation and we’d just chuckle at the idea — Except the last time.

Fred and Sarah Belle Tollison

Last time when we performed at Balsam, Fred and Sarah Belle were there and Fred had an unusually mischievous look in his eye.  He presented to me a finished lyric he had written to the variation of “Flyer Song” aptly called “Submariner Song”. It was typed out and it wasn’t half bad!

I sang a little bit of it that night – even though I had already sung the “Flyer Song” because I was so honored that a man of such achievement who had served America on my behalf…liked my song that much.

Here it is; unedited  “The Submariner Song” by Leslie Ellis/Fred Tollison…thanks Fred!

USS Daniel Webster (SSBN-626) One of the Submarines Fred served on

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