April 2001 (Debut Month) Inductees:
JOHNNY APPLESEED: Famous Pioneer/Wanderer who made his way west planting apple trees as he went. He has also been the
topic of many American Tall Tales. Some Tall Tale Legends of Johnny Appleseed say the one evening during his old age, he sat
under a tree and "Fell asleep." He saw a rainbow in front of him and walked right up it to Heaven. His real name was John
Chapman.
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~~PAUL BUNYAN: Legendary Giant Lumberjack who with the help of Babe, his Giant Blue Ox, cleared out a lot of Forests
in US Territories to make room for settlers. Paul Bunyan's and Babes efforts were said to have brought about famous landmarks
such as The Missouri River, The Great Lakes, The Grand Canyon, etc.
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DAVY CROCKETT: Was a famous Frontier Scout, Congressman and later, a Defender of The Alamo during the Mexican War and
Texas' bid for independence. He too has been the subject of many American Tall Tales.
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MIKE FINK: Famous River Boatman and sharpshooter on the Mississippi River during the Mid 1800's. He too has been the subject
of many American Tall Tales.
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~~JOHN HENRY: Legendary Railroad Laborer who was said to have driven steel with a hammer faster than any man. When
someone brought a Steam Drill into the Railroad Camp where he worked, John Henry challenged it to a race. John Henry beat
the Steam Drill, but ruptured a major blood vessel in the process and died.
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~~JOE MAGARAC: Legendary worker in the Early American Steel Mills who had the Spirit and Soul of a Human, but his Body
was made of Steel Ore. This helped him to form Moulten Hot Steel Bars with his bare hands. He did this so fast that the steel
mill had close down because of over production. In protest, he melted himself down in the main vat of moulten steel. But in
doing so, the quality if steel became so pure that there were always enough buyers that the mill never had to close down again,
and Pittsburgh, PA; became a world leader in the production of steel.
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~~PECOS BILL: Legendary Cowboy King who was raised by coyotes. During a cattle drive, a twister threatened the herd,
so he lassoed the tornado and rode it clear to California where it formed Death Valley. During a drought, he dug a trench
all the way to The Gulf of Mexico, forming The Rio Grande.
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KATE SHELLEY: Fifteen year old farm girl, who on the night of a severe thunderstorm in Iowa, in July of 1881, risked
her life to reach the Moingona Train Station to send out a warning to an approaching Express Train, and round up a rescue
team to save the life of two men trapped in Honey Creek, when the railroad bridge collapsed near her home.
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ALFRED BULLTOP STORMALONG (CAPTAIN): Famous Giant Sea Captain of the Famous Ship, "The Courser." His ship was so big, that
when it was passing through the English Channel, he commanded his crew to soap down the sides of the hull with white ivory
soap, otherwise it would have gotten stuck between the Dover Cliffs. The Legend says that's why the Dover Cliffs are ivory
white today. Stormalong was said to have grown to a height of 5 fathoms (30 feet).
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May 2001 Inductees:
STEPHEN FOSTER: Famous writer of Popular 19th Century Folk Songs such as: "Beautiful Dreamer," and "Swanee River."
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~~MOSES ("BIG MOSE") HUMPHREY: Famous legendary New York City Fire Fighter in Early-Mid 1800's who was said to have
been able to carry a steetcar full of people on his shoulders, and swim across The Hudson river in just three strokes. One
fateful evening when the Bowery caught on fire, threatening the entire city, Mose the Fireman tunneled all the way to New
Jersey and put out the fire by draining the entire Hudson River. Legends say that the tunnel Big Mose dug later became New
York's Subway.
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WASHINGTON IRVING: Famous author of American Folklore Classics such as The "Legend of Sleepy Hallow" and "Rip Van Winkle."
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PETE SEEGER: Famous Storyteller and Grammy Award Winning Folk Singer who has kept audiences entertained for more than
50 years. He is famous for songs such as "Where Have All the Flowers gone?".
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SACAGAWEA: Famous Shoshone Indian Guide who guided the Lewis & Clark Expidition to The Pacific Ocean. Without Sacajawea,
Lewis & Clark, and their men probably would not have survived. Her portrait was recently included on US Currency.
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June 2001 Inductees:
BURL IVES: Famous 20th Century Folk Singer, who also won an oscar in the motion picture, The Big Country. Some of his popular
Folk Songs included Lavender Blue, Big Rock Candy Mountain, and Blue Tail Fly.
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~~MIGHTY CASEY: Famous Folklore Charactor in the Immortal Tall Tale/Poem, Casey At Bat. An annimated segment on this classic
was included in Walt Disney's 8th Animated Movie, "Make Mine Music."
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July 2001 Inductees:
JOHNNY HORTON: Late Fifties American Folk Singer whose hits included "Sink The Bismarck, North To Alaska," and his
greatest hit, "The Battle of New Orleans."
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GIB MORGAN: Late 1800's Oil Driller who became a folklore legend from the Tall Tales he weaved out in the field.
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TOM PAXTON: Famous 1960's Folk Singer whose hits included "The Marvelous Toy" and "Going to the Zoo."
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PETER, PAUL & MARY: Famous Folk Singing group whose hits have included "Puff the Magic Dragon," and "Lemon Tree."
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ROBERT SERVICE: Was a Famous Klondike Folklore Poet whose famous poetry included "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The
Cremation of Sam Muggee."
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August 2001 Inductees:
MITCH MILLER: Produced several "Sing Along With Mitch" Albums and Folk Song Albums. One of the folk songs, "The Yellow
Rose of Texas" made Number One on the charts in 1955.
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~~PEGLEG JOE: Main charactor in the American Tall Tale and Folk Song, "Follow the Drinking Gourd." In the tale, he was
an agent for the Undergraound Railroad who helped a mother and her children who were slaves escape to freedom.
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JOHN PHILIP SOUSA: American composer of famous marches such as "Stars and Stripes Forever." His "Stars and Stripes"
March has lyrics to it.
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September 2001 Inductees:
WALT DISNEY: Brought a lot of folk tale classics to to th big screen such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella,
Peter Pan, Sleepimg Beauty, and the Tales of Uncle Remus (Song of the South). "Tribute to Disney:" www.angelfire.com/music3/EB/Disney.html
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~~SIGNOR BONA SLANG: Fictional Circus Performer in George Leybourne's Folk Song: "The Man on The Flying Trapeze." In
the story, he was said to have been a great trapeze artist who stole the heart of a young woman from her family and boyfriend.
The story is told by the jilted lover.
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October 2001 Inductees:
HANK WILLIAMS: Late Country Folk Singer Legend whose Hits included "Your Cheatin' Heart."
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~~ICHABOD CRANE: Fictional American Folklore School Master and Main Charactor from Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy
Hollow" who disapeared with out a trace when one evening, he encountered The Headless Horseman on his way home from Katrina
Van Tassle's.
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MARTY ROBBINS: Late Country Folk Singer whose Hits included "El Paso."
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