Bing Crosby
“The relaxed baritone whose easy phrasing made the microphone an intimate instrument.”
Going solo in the early 1930s, Bing Crosby pioneered the intimate 'crooning' style that the new electric microphone made possible, and his radio show and records made him America's favorite voice. His 1942 recording of 'White Christmas' became the best-selling single of all time. He became a star in the early 1930s.
Inventing the Crooner
Bing Crosby used the new electric microphone to sing softly and conversationally, a relaxed style that influenced two generations of pop singers. His easygoing manner made him a fixture of radio, records and film.
White Christmas and the Movies
His 1942 recording of 'White Christmas' became the best-selling single in history. He won a Best Actor Oscar for 'Going My Way' (1944) and teamed with Bob Hope for the hugely popular 'Road' comedies.
Enduring Voice
For decades he was among the most admired men in America. He kept performing into the 1970s, recording a famous duet with David Bowie shortly before he died of a heart attack in Spain in 1977.
Career Timeline
- 1903Born Harry Lillis Crosby in Tacoma. Raised in Spokane.
- 1942White Christmas. Holiday Inn.
- 1944Going My Way. Academy Award for Best Actor.
- 1947Backs tape. American radio learns to edit.
- 1977Dies in Madrid after a round of golf. Seventy-four.
Biggest Hits
- He got the nickname 'Bing' as a boy, reportedly from his love of a comic strip called 'The Bingville Bugle.'
- He championed magnetic tape recording, helping bring the technology to American radio and the music industry.
The Moment You Remember
For millions, the season does not truly begin until Crosby's voice glides through White Christmas, the unhurried baritone that has accompanied family gatherings for generations.
Portrait: Paramount Pictures (anonymous/unknown) · Public domain (PD US not renewed) · via Wikimedia Commons