Burl Ives

Burl Ives was born in Hunt City, Illinois in 1909. He worked as a farmhand and coal miner before hitchhiking to New York City in the 1930s, where he sang in Greenwich Village clubs. His Broadway debut came in 1940 with a role in 'The Boys from Syracuse.'

He appeared in Hollywood films like 'East of Eden' and 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' during the 1940s and 1950s. Alongside acting, he recorded over 70 albums that mixed folk, country, and Christmas music. His 1964 recording of 'A Holly Jolly Christmas' became a holiday standard, though he also sang traditional songs like 'Big Rock Candy Mountain' and 'Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly).'

Ives was briefly blacklisted during the McCarthy era but continued performing. His deep baritone voice and folksy delivery brought traditional American music to a broad audience.