'When You Fly' Singer Ansel Brown Performed At STS-135 Launch

Part of the activities surrounding the July 8 launch of NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis on the program's final mission, STS-135, was an appearance at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex by country artist Ansel Brown, who performed his song, "When You Fly," for thousands of guests.

STS-135 Launch

Of the shuttle program, he says, "Like many Americans, I have a deep seated faith in the ability of our country to lead the way in space! When I learned that the Space Shuttle Program was ending, I couldn’t believe how many people were thinking it was simply the end of it all. The historical program’s end just marks the beginning of the next great adventure."

Brown explains, "I wrote 'When You Fly' with my wife Lisa about flying and daring to dream. To me this song is perfect in explaining that NASA will continue daring to dream... NASA is going to continue well beyond the Shuttle."

But there's a little more to the role played by Lisa, and her family, in the story of the song's creation. According to an FAA newsletter, Lisa's grandfather is Richard Wixom, who was inducted last year into the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame. The hall's website notes that Dick Wixom founded Blackhawk Airways in 1971, and went on to acquire a fleet of 18 aircraft, including 14 Beech 18s.

According to the Focus FAA newsletter, Dick Wixom's induction into the hall last year inspired Lisa to work with her husband to finish the song in honor of her father. It was only after it was already recorded in Nashville that Ansel Brown heard a radio interview with NASA Astronaut Mark Kelly, and realized the new song had an obvious connection to the end of the shuttle program.

During the performance at KSC, Ansel sang while Lisa joined him onstage to relate the lyrics in sign language. Afterward, Lisa says she and her husband had fun talking with astronauts, especially after they found out Lisa is an air traffic controller in the Fort Smith tower in Arkansas.

FMI (Hear the song:) www.anselbrown.com/Music/tabid/732/Default.aspx