I like good ol' Burl too. I got a couple of his LP's for Christmas last year. My copy of Pearly Shells was worn out. Heh.
My folks knew a famous singer that was friends with him. He told them a few tales of late night/early morning get togethers with Burl, singing, laughing, and drinking. He had a tendency to over-do-it according the guy.
What's sad is, someone like him would never make it today if he was just starting out.