It was a cold pre-dawn morning that January 17th 1975 when Russ Marsh looked up from his work to check the time – 3:10 am. He had struggled for hours to complete the new song he was writing, “Don’t Ever Say Good-bye”.

An eerie feeling had pursued him through the night; his thoughts kept turning to death – and to the beginnings of yet another song. Finally, he gave into the new inspiration and began to write “Walking in the Footsteps of Your Mind”. It came quickly, and proved to be one of Russ’ most moving songs.

Two years passed and Gary Gilmore waited on death row at Utah State Prison. He had committed two nonsensical and brutal murders in the Provo area. As his execution date approached, he constantly requested a particular song to be played on K.S.O.P. radio. It was “Walking in the Footsteps of Your Mind” by Russ Marsh. The impact was overwhelming.

Radio stations all over the world were calling K.S.O.P. about Russ’ song. United Press and Associated Press picked up on the story. There were calls from London Times and the National Enquirer.

“Walking in the Footsteps of Your Mind” held the only solace that Gary Gilmore could find. It became famous overnight. Then, on January 17th 1977, “Walking in the Footsteps of Your Mind” played over the air one last time for Gary as he marched out to be executed. This was five minutes before the execution and the song was exactly 4 minutes 40 seconds long.

He died exactly two years to the day from that cold morning when Russ wrote the song.

The TRUE “Executioner’s Song”