Almanac Music: Burl
While listening to a Spotify playlist on shuffle a song came on by Jerry Reed. No, it wasn’t ‘She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)’ but it did send me down a bit of a rabbit warren. Jerry Reed had a not too shabby career as a singer/guitarist when in the early 70s, courtesy of his mate Burt Reynolds, he tried his hand at acting. I’m talking about Smokey and the Bandit. A seminal film for teens back in the day. I reckon I’m stating the obvious to say that they don’t (probably couldn’t) make ‘em like that anymore.
I didn’t know who Jerry Reed was when I saw the Burt Reynolds classic but I soon learned he was the ‘Guitar Man’. Yes, a record Elvis covered as his film career was ‘jumping the shark’ and a critical link to his 1968 comeback special was this Jerry Reed song. And Jerry plays guitar on the Elvis version! He was of course much more than that and is worth checking out.
Thinking about Jerry led me to think about singers who become actors and vice versa. Warning: We are not about to head into Russell Crowe or Hugh Laurie territory and I think we need to thank several gods for that. We won’t be investigating Miley Montana or Hannah Cyrus either.
The Jerry Reed song jolted me to thinking about the first time I came across and had to comprehend a singer/musician who turned their hand to acting. To ensure the bleeding obvious doesn’t splatter blood everywhere, let’s be clear, Elvis and The Beatles are out of bounds for this parlour game. I racked my mind trying to think of musician/actory types. Showing my age here, but a standout was David Bowie in The Man who Fell to Earth in 1976 – that was mind blowing.
Other than that, slim pickings.
Then it dawned on me. Burl Ives. Of course. Surely you remember Burl Ives. Not if you’re under 40 you don’t!
I really didn’t know much about his artistic history. However, unrelated moments conspire to align in improbable ways. My parents record collection was the opposite of extensive but they did have a few country music compilations. On one of these was ‘I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight’ by Burl Ives. I loved it without appreciating Dylan or the ridiculous influence he would have through my formative years. And the continuing influence he would have through my life.
As an aside, Dylan was somewhat responsible for fuelling my suspicions about the Catholic Church (of which I was a prisoner, having been baptised without my consent at the ripe old age of 3 months). His song, ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’, was in our local church hymn collection. By the time I was 10 or 11 I had to reconcile the conflicting ideas of Dylan being part of the counterculture while at the same time his song was being sung by the Establishment. I leaned into Dylan and leaned outa religion.
Back to Burl. As a kid I knew Burl Ives as a singer and I also happened to chance on an incredible film that moved me, as Tennessee Williams’ stories will. That was Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor and Burl Ives as Big Daddy. I may have also seen him in an episode of Alias Smith and Jones. Now, I haven’t thought of Burl Ives in a long, long time and I couldn’t say I have listened to his albums in forever. But for a moment the other day he swirled around my fragmented thoughts and memories, triggered by trying to recall the first time I had to consider a music artist turned actor and vice versa.
So, in the spirit of Almanackers who write essays to encourage readers to comment, who do you remember as the first musician turned actor (or vice versa) and when was it? An added bonus, which musician turned actor or god help us, actor turned musician has been the worst or best transition? I look forward to your comments!
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About Rick Kane
Up in the mornin', out on the job Work like the devil for my pay But that lucky old sun has nothin' to do But roll around Heaven all day
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Cracker Trucker! I remember Burl Ives well as a kid, and he was a popular guest on many TV shows usually singing ‘novelty’ type shows.
Interestingly, he saved his career by dobbing in fellow musos he believed to have communist leanings during McCarthy era inquiries. Pete Seeger fell out with him over this.
Three local ones that come to mind TS
John(ny) Farnham – star of TV series Bobby Dazzler
Mark Holden – lobbed into The Young Doctors
Jon English – Against The Wind
Farnham and English had appeared on the stage before their tv roles
great article Rick. Buyrl Ives was awesome as Big Daddy . In more recent times I remember seeing Harry Connick Junior play a serial killer? Also Courtney Love was in Boogie Nights and Madonna was in Desperately Seeking Susan. Lady Gaga in A Star is Born and Kris Kristofferson and Babs while we’re talking the same film. Justin Timberlake has been in a couple and Tom Waits has had some memorable roles. Cheers
Hi Rick.
Never been a fan of Burl Ives, but … musician turned actor? Just about the first that comes to mind is Cliff Richard, in musical films like Summer Holiday (1963), though I’m aware that this wasn’t his first film.
Shall we watch Cliff et al. in Expresso Bongo (1959) over a beer? (Actually, I’ve heard good things about it!)
Thanks for your contributions and thoughts.
CR, I did not know that about Burl and now I must cancel him!
Thanks MS, yes, Jon English was another one in the 70s that I couldn’t get whether he was a singer or an actor. I’ll go with singer, just to be on the safe side. :)
Thanks Ian, I was going to include Madonna along with Crowe etc. I love KK but as for acting and singing he’s a damn good songwriter. And don’t get me started on the latest version of A Star is Born, that film is the mess of messes when it comes to actors/musicians indulgences.
To be clear KD, I wasn’t promoting Burl and after reading CRs point defs not. LOL Happy to have a beer but might leave CR stuff parked.
And to the FA editor that posted this piece, thank you for adding the images. Much appreciated!
Onyas
Frank Sinatra (the finest male voice in popular music – could sing the telephone book and make it sound lyrical – the prosecution rest, m’lud} also a fine actor. Won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for “From Here to Eternity”. I remember him as a tough guy GI in WW2 drama “Von Ryan’s Express” and he had serious roles in many films including “The Manchurian Candidate” and “Man with the Golden Arm”.
Of course there were plenty of musicals – “High Society” with Grace Kelly; “Guys and Dolls”; a best original song Oscar for the sublime “All the Way” from “The Joker is Wild”. This clip is “Lady is a Tramp” from “Pal Joey” where Frank has to choose between a rich widow (ageing Rita Hayworth) and a new chorus girl. Legend has it that Frank toured Australia after being jilted by Ava Gardner, who was filming nuclear war epic “On the Beach” with Gregory Peck. (“What do you think of Melbourne, Miss Gardner”? “I couldn’t think of a better place to make a film about the end of the earth”.)
Frank knew Ava wouldn’t be able to resist sneaking in to see him perform, and when she entered a few songs into the set he stopped the band mid number and dedicated “Lady is a Tramp” to “Miss Gardner”.
Hi Rick – yes, beer OK, but was just joking about watching the Cliffy film!
Bob Dylan in the Dennis Hopper classic Catchfire:
https://youtu.be/CzFQq5mMgVY
Yep Burl Ives carved out a career as a singer, actor, but as a person loyal to his mates?
During the McCarythist era of America during the 1950’s ( Australia under the leadership of ‘Pig Iron Bob’ wasn’t too different) it didn’t pay to think independently or question the power of those who ran the place. If you were did you would find yourself out of a career, job, even in jail. I won’t get onto the Rosenbergs.
In 1950 Burl Ives was accused of being a communist. A few years later, fearful of being deprived of his career, his income, he agreed to testify before the House of Un-American Activities Committee. He named other performers who had left wing politics, effectively helping destroy their careers, remove their income.
Burl Ives continued on with a successful, prosperous life. For those he named, their futures weren’t as bright.
Anyhow on singers who also did some acting Rose Tattoo frontman ‘Angry’ Anderson popped up in a few movies, as well as being a bit of a ‘dial-a-quote’ on some TV shows.
Glen!
Glen!
Again, appreciate the comments, keep them coming!
PB, excellent call. And stories!
KD, phew re Cliffy, ha,ha
DB, noice, while Bob does have an Academy Award, no-one is going to mistake it for his, er, acting.
Glen, thanks for providing more detail re Burl dobbing his peers in, and I stress my post does not support such behaviour. Oh, and yes, good pick up with Angry.
Cheers
Here’s a triplet ~~~
Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid – soundtrack by Bob Dylan; starring – Kris Kristofferson as Billy The Kid, & Bob Dylan as Alias (the storekeeper & chief bean counter).
& not to forget ~~~
Hearts Of Fire – starring Bob Dylan: playing a reclusive musician who was once a huge rock star.