Burl Ives

Overview
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Overview

Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives

American Country/Folk singer, songwriter, actor, and author.

Born: June 14, 1909 in Hunt City Township, Illinois.

Died: April 14, 1995 in Anacortes, Washington

It has been said he gave his first professional performance at age 4 in 1913, singing “Barbara Allen” at a picnic, which earned him one dollar. Having recorded numerous albums and singles over a career lasting more than 40 years, his biggest record was “A Little Bitty Tear” released by Decca as a single in November 1961. In 1962 he released another hit single “Funny Way of Laughin'”, it appeared on the album “It’s Just My Funny Way of Laughin'” and won Ives a Grammy Award for Best Country Western Recording.

He recorded numerous children’s recordings and recorded several religious albums for Word Records and made a significant contribution to the popularization of folk music. He will also be remembered for playing a handful of powerful performances on stage and film. Academy Award winning American actor, Broadway performer and acclaimed folk music singer and author, Burl Ives died from complications of mouth cancer in 1995 at the age of 85.

There is a comprehensive archive of his work on the DAHR (Discography of American Historical Recordings) website. The website www.burlives.com has reverted to a placeholder page when checked 20 April 2025.

Ives is included in the MMDI for his much asked about recording of maritime songs, Down to the Sea in Ships. He also recorded an EP, Shanties!