Bing Crosby

Singer / Actor

Name at birth: Harry Lillis Crosby

Though he is sometimes now forgotten, Bing Crosby was one of the biggest music and movie stars of the mid-20th century. He started out as a member of the Rhythm Boys, a jazz vocal trio, before going solo in the early 1930s. He quickly became a radio star as a silky-smooth crooner who could sing both pop and jazz. As such he is often credited with inspiring Frank Sinatra and other modern pop singers. (Crosby's languid improvisation, "buh-buh-buh-boooo," was widely parodied.) Crosby also became a film star, winning an Oscar for his portrayal of a good-natured priest in the 1944 movie Going My Way. His long-running comic feud with comedian Bob Hope was milked for laughs on their radio and TV shows, and they co-starred in a series of movies that became known as the "road films": The Road to Singapore (1940), The Road to Hong Kong (1962) and five other films between. (Their co-star in many of the road movies was actress Dorothy Lamour.) Crosby first sang the tune "White Christmas" in the movie Holiday Inn (1942); his recording of the tune remains a holiday favorite, and for many years was the biggest-selling single of all time. In the 1960s and '70s his annual Christmas special was a popular TV fixture. He died in 1977 on a golf course in Spain, having just completed the 18th hole.

Extra credit: Crosby's nickname "Bing" grew out of his childhood interest in a comic strip titled The Bingville Bugle... He attended Gonzaga University... Crosby's theme song was The Blue of the Night... He's the brother of bandleader Bob Crosby, the father of actress Mary Crosby and the grandfather of actress Denise Crosby. Mary Crosby played Kristin Shepard, the gal who shot J.R. Ewing on the TV series Dallas; Denise Crosby played Lt. Tasha Yar on Star Trek: The Next Generation... The familiy is no relation to singer David Crosby... Bing Crosby and Bob Hope both started golf tournaments; Crosby's famous pro-am was held for many years at Pebble Beach golf club in California... Crosby was the topic of the 2001 biography A Pocketful of Dreams by author Gary Giddins.

Crosby joins "White Christmas" composer Irving Berlin, Jimmy Stewart and Dr. Seuss in our loop Stars of Bethlehem.