Ross Burns
Host, I Hear America SingingA native of Austin, Texas, Ross grew up in the midst of the Urban Folk Revival of the 1950s and 60s. His first introduction to folk music was the Kingston Trio with their million selling albums. From there, he went forward, backwards and sideways collecting music all along the way. He is a retired librarian and a student of history.
As a historian, he loves researching the stories behind the music and the performers. He has worked as a librarian in public, academic and corporate libraries around the state of Texas. He combines his love of both folk music and history to research the stories of the performers as well as of the songs that they sing. He has been a guest lecturer in English and Folklore classes at the college level and has had articles published in newspapers and professional journals.
In 2006 Ross began his broadcasting with Marfa Public Radio. He retired and moved to Waco with his wife Betty. Ross is the volunteer host and mastermind behind I Hear America Singing which has been airing regularly on KWBU since August, 2014.
I Hear America Singing - Saturdays at 7pm, Sundays at 9pm - is live streamed at KWBU.org and through the KWBU mobile ap. Due to music licensing restrictions we cannot archive programs on line.
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When Ross attended his high school reunion, he saw all those old folks that he went to school with and started thinking about aging and rounded up a bundle of songs reflecting that idea. -
This week on I Hear America Singing, we explore the many ways music says goodbye. -
This week on I Hear America Singing, we take to the skies—both literally and figuratively. -
This week on 'I Hear America Singing', we highlight the career of Fred Hellerman. -
This week Ross continues touring the states. -
It being summertime, Ross starts a tour of the United States this week going from Alabama to Massachusetts. -
This week the show should be titled I Hear Scotland Singing, more specifically Scotland’s favorite poet, Robert Burns -
This week Ross explores the world of Cattle Trials and Cattle Drives. After the Civil War, the demand for beef led to millions of Texas cattle being driven to distant markets along several established trails, including the Chisholm Trail right through downtown Waco! -
This week, Ross has been looking down – at his feet and what’s on them. From Carl Perkins’ Blue Suede Shoes to Janis Ian’s I Want Boots Like Emmylou’s, Ross has a store full of songs about footwear. -
From Yellow Roses to Deep Blue Seas, this week Ross Burn is jumping across the entire color spectrum to bring us numerous songs that dabble with different hues.
