Burl Ives, a renowned American singer, actor, and musician, was born into a farming family in Hunt City, Jasper, Illinois, as one of six children to Cordellia "Dellie" (White) and Levi Franklin Ives.
As a young boy, Ives first sang in public at a soldiers' reunion when he was just four years old. In high school, he developed a passion for music and learned to play the banjo, with the intention of becoming a football coach.
After enrolling at Eastern Illinois State Teacher's College in 1927, Ives dropped out in 1930 and embarked on a journey of self-discovery, hitchhiking, and doing odd jobs, while also honing his singing skills by performing on street corners.
Ives' big break came when he landed a job with CBS radio in 1940, where he popularized many folk songs he had collected during his travels, including "Wayfaring Stranger". This led to a successful music career, with over 30 albums released for Decca and Columbia Records.
In addition to his music career, Ives also made a name for himself on the big screen, starring in over 30 films, including the iconic Christmas special "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" in 1964. He also made his Broadway debut in 1938 and created the role of Big Daddy in the 1950s production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", which ran for several years.
Ives' impressive film career reached its peak in the 1950s, with standout roles in "Smoky" (1946),"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (1958),and "The Big Country" (1958),for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
After retiring from show business on his 80th birthday in 1989, Ives settled in Anacortes, Washington, but continued to perform at benefit concerts at his own request. He passed away in 1995, leaving behind a legacy as a beloved singer, actor, and musician.
