I Hear America Singing - Aliases

By Ross Burns

Published May 10, 2025 at 7:30 PM CDT

This week, we hear from the likes of Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr., Leonard Slye, and his wife Francis Octavia Smith – oh maybe you know them better as John Denver, Roy Rogers, and Dale Evans. Ross takes a peek behind stage names and how they came to be.

I HEAR AMERICA SINGING - ALIASES

1. Annie's Song by John Denver
2. Trail of the Lonesome Pine by Laurel & Hardy
3. Happy Trails by Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
4. Every Inch of the Way by Bob Shane
5. Portland Town by Ramblin; Jack Elliott
6. Lay Lady, Lay by Bob Dylan
7. Lang a-Little Bird Growing by Ewan MacColl
8. Little Bird by Jerry Jeff Walker
9. Absaroka by Bobby Bridger
10. When Will I Get to be Called A Man by Big Bill Broonzy
11. I Don’t Want to Get Adjusted by The Weavers
12. Stay As Sick As You Are by Katie Lee
13. Gunslinger by The Limeliters
14. Dear Abby by John Prines

I Hear America Singing

Ross Burns

A 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.

See stories by Ross Burns