Burl Ives
b. Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives, 14 June 1909, Hunt Township, Jasper County, Illinois, USA, d. 14 April 1995, Anacortes, Washington, USA. One of the world's most celebrated singers of folk ballads, with a gentle, intimate style, Ives was also an actor on the stage and screen, and an anthologist and editor of folk music. The son of tenant farmers in the "Bible Belt" of Illinois, he was singing in public for money with his brothers and sisters when he was four years old. Many of the songs they sang originated in the British Isles, and were taught to them by their tobacco-chewing grandmother. After graduating from high school in 1927 Ives went to college with the aim of becoming a professional football coach. Instead, he left college early, in 1930, and hitch-hiked throughout the USA, Canada and Mexico, supporting himself by doing odd jobs and singing to his own banjo accompaniment, picking up songs everywhere he went. After staying for a time in Terre Haute, Indiana, attending the State Teachers College, he moved to New York and studied with vocal coach Ekka Toedt, before enrolling for formal music training at New York University.
Listen to Burl Ives
at Finetune.
Albums
- (2007) Burl Ives Greatest Hits
- (2003) Best Of/20th Century - Christmas
- (2001) 20th Century Masters :The Millennium Collection: Best of Burl Ives
- (1999) The Very Best Of Burl Ives Christmas
- (1999) Inspirational Favorites
- (1998) Have A Holly Jolly Christmas
- (1998) A Twinkle In Your Eye
- (1997) A Twinkle In Your Eye
- (1995) Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
- (1994) A Little Bitty Tear
- (1968) Christmas Album
- (1964) Chim Chim Cher-ee And Other Children's Choices
- (1949) Burl Ives Sings Little White Duck And Other Children'S Favorites
Top Tracks
- Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
- Silver And Gold
- Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
- Overture And A Holly Jolly Christmas
- Silver Bells
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