Burl Ives American actor and folk singer Date of Birth: 14.06.1909 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Early Career and Radio Success
3. Military Service and Career Breakthrough
4. Hollywood Success and Controversy
5. Musical Success and Later Career
6. Legacy and Death

Early Life and Education

Burl Ives was born on June 14, 1909, in Hunt City, Illinois, to Levi Ives and Cordelia White. Growing up in a large family with six siblings, young Burl displayed a passion for music from a tender age. One summer afternoon, as he sang a duet with his mother in their backyard, his uncle overheard their performance and invited him to perform for a gathering of war veterans. Ives enthusiastically chose the ballad "Barbara Allen" and mesmerized the audience.

As a teenager, Ives joined the Boy Scouts of America, where he earned numerous honors and badges. He often entertained his fellow scouts with his singing and even starred in a 28-minute film about the organization in 1977. In 1927, Ives enrolled in Eastern Illinois State Teachers College (now Eastern Illinois University) as a promising student and football player. However, after just one year, his wanderlust got the better of him. Ives made a legendary escape from the English classroom and became known for the most famous dropout in the college's history. The building from which he fled gained national notoriety.

Early Career and Radio Success

During the 1930s, Ives traveled extensively throughout the United States, earning his keep by performing his songs in bars and doing odd jobs. Along the way, he was even arrested in Mona, Utah, for mistaken identification as a vagrant. In the mid-1930s, Ives began his radio career in Indiana, eventually earning a bachelor's degree from Indiana State University.

In 1940, Ives launched his own radio show, "The Wayfaring Stranger," named after his popular song. Over the next decade, his renditions of "Foggy, Foggy Dew," "Blue Tail Fly," and "Big Rock Candy Mountain" became American folk classics.

Military Service and Career Breakthrough

In 1942, Ives was drafted into the army, serving primarily on military bases. He appeared in the show "This Is the Army" and was promoted to corporal before being honorably discharged in 1943 due to medical reasons.

In 1945, Ives married screenwriter Helen Peck, and they had a son four years later. In 1949, Ives performed the old English ballad "Lavender Blue" in the film "So Dear to My Heart," which became a hit and earned him an Academy Award for Best Song.

Hollywood Success and Controversy

In the 1950s, Ives' involvement with fellow folk musician Pete Seeger raised suspicions of communist sympathies. He faced scrutiny by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and had to prove his loyalty. Despite the controversy, Ives continued his acting career, appearing in notable films such as "East of Eden," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," and "Desire Under the Elms."

Musical Success and Later Career

In the 1960s, Ives focused primarily on music, writing three popular songs in 1962: "A Little Bitty Tear," "Call Me Mister In-Between," and "Funny Way of Laughing." In 1970, he starred in the film "The Man Who Wanted to Live Forever" and made a guest appearance on the television series "Night Gallery" in 1972.

After divorcing Helen in 1971, Ives remarried Dorothy Koster Paul. In 1975, he was honored by the University of Pennsylvania for his contributions to music.

Legacy and Death

Burl Ives passed away on April 14, 1995, at the age of 85, from cancer. He was laid to rest in his hometown of Hunt City, Illinois. Remembered as a beloved folk singer and actor, Ives left an enduring legacy on American music and culture.