Burl Ives

Burl Ives was born June 14th 1909. During his life time as a musician he would become an Academy Award winning actor, author and renowned folk singer. Many say that Ives found a personal connection with music when he dropped out of school and roamed the countryside. Ives would find work in New York city as both a singer and an actor. Later after WWII Ives would begin a career in film.

Ives would be branded as a communist in the 1950s. Ives would avoid being black listed by testifying in front of colleagues about Un-American activities.  Ives carreer would continue to grow and in 1964 play the voice of Sam the Snowman in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer , others were soon to come.

Ives would pass in 1995 due to oral cancer. By his side was his second wife, Dorothy and his children.

Burl Ives has been a life time citizen of Illinois being born in Hunt City Jasper County Illinois. The youngest of six children he had little fun except for his music and lots of work as the family lived on a farm. As Ives grew he shared the family songs charging a quarter a song. Ives was an active member of scouts and the high school football team.

Burl Ives would attend college at Eastern Illinois State Teacher's college in 1927 but leave early to pursue his musical career. Alone with his banjo Ives traveled the many roads learning songs along the way. The army would draft Ives to  travel with many other musicians to entertain the troops. Later, he would be found on a list of names suspected to be communist, he would clear his name by testifying.

Burl Ives became well known over the many years as he worked on stage, screen, books and records. Many T.V shows would call Ives to participate as well. Christmas movies would never be the same to me without the Burl Ives character of Sam Snowman .

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