Burl Ives biography

Profile

Burl Ives was born on June 14, 1909, in Jasper County, Illinois. He learned Scottish, English and Irish ballads from his grandmother and he later hitchhiked around the U.S. collecting songs. He recorded more than 100 albums with hits such as “Big Rock Candy Mountain” and “Frosty the Snowman.” A respected actor, he also appeared on Broadway and in films such as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and East of Eden.