Burl Ives
A gentle-voed folk troubadour whose warm baritone brought traditional American songs to mainstream audiences and Hollywood.
1909–1995 (age 86)·American musician and actor·Birthday: June 14·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Burl Ives began as a wandering folk singer with a banjo, collecting ballads and carving a path as one of the first to popularize American folk music on radio and record. His voice, a rich, comforting instrument, made standards like 'The Blue Tail Fly' and 'Big Rock Candy Mountain' feel like shared national treasures. This folksy persona translated seamlessly to acting, where he often played lovable, larger-than-life characters. His role as the storytelling Big Daddy in 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' showcased surprising dramatic depth, but it was as the genial, snowball-fighting narrator in the classic TV special 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' that he became a permanent fixture of American childhood. Ives's career was a bridge, carrying the soul of folk tradition into the living rooms of the 20th century.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Burl was born in 1909, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Burl Was Born
The biggest hits of 1909
Burl's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1909Born
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1914Started school
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Became a teenager
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1925Could drive
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1927Could vote
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1930Turned 21
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1939Turned 30
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1949Turned 40
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 50
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 60
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1979Turned 70
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 80
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1995Died at 86
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
Key Achievements
- Won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'The Big Country' (1958).
- Recorded the beloved holiday classic 'A Holly Jolly Christmas' and narrated the perennial TV special 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'.
- Published multiple songbooks and collections, helping to preserve and popularize American folk music.
- Had a successful Broadway career, notably originating the role of Captain Andy in 'Show Boat'.
Did You Know?
He was expelled from college for singing a 'ribald' folk song, which began his professional music career.
He was a champion softball pitcher in his youth and briefly considered a sports career.
He testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee during the Red Scare, naming names.
He provided the voice for Sam the Eagle in the early years of 'The Muppet Show'.
“A folk song is a piece of music that's been whittled down by generations of use until it's as smooth as a river stone.”
