Burl Ives

Burl Ives (b. Jasper County, Illinois, June 14, 1909 – d. Anacortes, Washington, April 14, 1995) – Singer, banjoist, and actor. In addition to being an acclaimed actor (winning a best supporting Oscar for The Big Country, 1958), Ives was a distinguished folk singer with over 100 albums to his credit. Dubbed by Carl Sanburg as “America’s Mightiest Folk Singer,” Ives is famous for his renditions of several traditional songs including “Blue-Tail Fly,” “Big Rock Candy Mountain,” and “Jimmy Crack Corn,” as well as such Christmas standards as “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Frosty the Snowman,” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Singing folk ballads was an integral part of his rural upbringing, and he developed an interest in singing as a young boy. After dropping out of Eastern Illinois State Teachers' College (now EIU) in 1929, he traveled the country as a singing hobo and eventually wound up in Terre Haute, where he took singing lessons with Clara Bloomfield Lyon. In fact, he credits Lyon for turning his life around and for encouraging him to pursue a career in music. Also in Terre Haute, he appeared on WBOW radio station (early 1930s), sang in the church choir at the Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church, played semi-professional football, and continued his education at Indiana State Teachers' College (now ISU). Following his Terre Haute years, Ives embarked on a singing career in New York City and eventually achieved fame in the music industry (starting in the 1940s) as well as considerable success in theatrical productions, motion pictures, and television.