Bing Crosby was an American singer, comedian and actor. He was one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation by the time of his death. Crosby is known for his warm bass-baritone voice and his casual yet authoritative stage presence. He is famous for songs such as "White Christmas" and "Swinging on a Star", as well as his performances in films such as "Going My Way" and "The Bells of St. Mary's". He passed away in 1977.
Singling out one album as Bing Crosby's "best" can be somewhat subjective, as it often depends on personal preference and the specific criteria used to evaluate his work. However, one album that is frequently rated highly in his discography is the 1945 album "Merry Christmas". This album includes his iconic renditions of festive classics—most notably "White Christmas", which is one of the best-selling singles of all time. His warm voice and vibrant style gave a unique touch to the songs in this album, earning him a timeless place in the realm of holiday music.
Bing Crosby recorded more than 1,600 songs throughout his prolific career, so it's difficult to definitively know if he had a single favorite piece. However, it's often suggested that "White Christmas" was among his personal favorites. "White Christmas" is one of his most popular songs and it's the track he's possibly most associated with, having recorded it for the film "Holiday Inn" in 1942. The song was immensely popular and continues to be a staple during the holiday season. Bing also claimed that his favorite of all the movies he made was "The Country Girl" for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
It's crucial to note that this is based on various reports and interviews, and only Bing himself could've truly confirmed his favorite song or performance.
While Bing Crosby was best known as a singer and actor, he did try his hand at songwriting occasionally. Crosby is credited on a few songs, including "At Your Command," which he co-wrote with Harry Barris and Harry Tobias. However, he's primarily known for his performances rather than his songwriting. More often, he brought his distinct style and voice to the work of other songwriters, as in his iconic renditions of "White Christmas" and "Swinging On A Star," both written by other people.
Bing Crosby certainly did have ambitions and projects that didn't materialize or couldn't be completed due to a variety of reasons. Notably, during his lifetime, he had a distinct vision for multimedia and broadcasting which was quite ahead of his time. He was a very early proponent of the use of tape recording for broadcast radio, a concept that was not fully realized within his lifetime to the extent that he had envisioned it.
In terms of film, he turned down a number of prospective projects for one reason or another. One such offer that he declined was to star in "The Jazz Singer", which eventually went on to be a landmark film in the history of cinema as the first feature-length motion picture with not only a synchronized recorded music score but also lip-synchronous singing and speech.
From a business perspective, he was also involved in breeding racehorses. Though he saw some success in this area, his ambitions of winning prestigious races like the Kentucky Derby were not fully realized.
On a more personal level, Crosby was devoted to his faith and dedicated a significant amount of time and resources to the Catholic Church. While he was successful in many of these endeavors, there were likely goals related to these philanthropic efforts that remained unfulfilled at the time of his death.
However, despite these unrealized projects, Crosby's influence spanned both entertainment and technology, hinting at how pioneering his vision truly was. His legacy continues to be significant in the music, film, and recording industries.
Bing Crosby passed away on October 14, 1977.
Discover and learn about people that are similar to Bing Crosby.