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I Hear America Singing

I Hear America Singing - Folk Heroes

By Ross Burns
Published June 27, 2026 at 7:15 PM CDT

For this edition of I Hear America Singing Classics, Ross has selected from the Archives a 2018 show all about folk heroes, real and otherwise, from Robin Hood to Tom Blasingame.

Along the way we encounter Captain Kidd, Johnny Appleseed, Pual Bunyan, Davy Crockett, John Henry, and Jesse James among others.

I HEAR AMERICA - FOLK HEROES

1. Robin Hood's Golden Prize by Ed McCurdy
2. Henry Martin by Joan Baez
3. William Kidd by Makem & Spain Brothers
4. Stormalong by A.L. Loyd & Ewan MacColl
5. Appleseed John by New Christy Minstrels
6. The Ballad of Davy Crockett by Bill Hayes
7. John Henry by Paul Robeson
8. Casey Jones by Pete Seeger
9. Casey Jones by The Greenhorns
10. Jesse James by Bentley Ball
11. Sam Bass by Brownie McNeil
12. Billy the Kid by Woody Guthrie
13. Pecos Bill by Riders in the Sky
14. Paul Bunyan by New Christy Minstrels
15. Paul by Bobby Bare
16. Abraham, Martin, and John by Dion
17. Tom Blasingame by Ian Tyson

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