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Bing Crosby

Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, actor, television producer, and businessman. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a leader in record sales, network radio ratings, and motion picture grosses from 1926 to 1977. He was one of the first global cultural icons. He made over 70 feature films and recorded more than 1,600 songs.

His early career coincided with recording innovations that allowed him to develop an intimate singing style that influenced many male singers who followed, such as Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Dean Martin, Dick Haymes, Elvis Presley, and John Lennon. Yank magazine said that he was "the person who had done the most for the morale of overseas servicemen" during World War II. In 1948, American polls declared him the "most admired man alive", ahead of Jackie Robinson and Pope Pius XII.: 6  In 1948, Music Digest estimated that his recordings filled more than half of the 80,000 weekly hours allocated to recorded radio music in America.

Crosby won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Going My Way (1944) and was nominated for its sequel, The Bells of St. Mary's (1945), opposite Ingrid Bergman, becoming the first of six actors to be nominated twice for playing the same character. He was the number one box office attraction for five consecutive years, 1944 to 1948. At his screen apex in 1946, Crosby starred in three of the year's five highest-grossing films: The Bells of St. Mary's, Blue Skies and Road to Utopia. In 1963, Crosby received the first Grammy Global Achievement Award. He is one of 33 people to have three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in the categories of motion pictures, radio, and audio recording. He was also known for his collaborations with his friend Bob Hope, starring in the Road to... films from 1940 to 1962.

Crosby influenced the development of the post World War II recording industry. After seeing a demonstration of a German broadcast quality reel-to-reel tape recorder brought to the United States by John T. Mullin, he invested $50,000 in the California electronics company Ampex to build copies. He then persuaded ABC to allow him to tape his shows. He became the first performer to prerecord his radio shows and master his commercial recordings onto magnetic tape. Crosby has been associated with the Christmas season since Irving Berlin's musical film Holiday Inn, in which he starred and famously sang "White Christmas". Through audio recordings, he produced his radio programs with the same directorial tools and craftsmanship (editing, retaking, rehearsal, time shifting) used in motion picture production, a practice that became the industry standard. In addition to his work with early audio tape recording, he helped finance the development of videotape, bought television stations, bred racehorses, and co-owned the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team, during which time the team won two World Series (1960 and 1971).

Birth and Death Data: Born May 3, 1903 (Tacoma), Died October 14, 1977 (Madrid)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1961

Roles Represented in DAHR: baritone vocal, lyricist, songwriter, speaker, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 126-150 of 1149 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W151604 10-in. 6/15/1931 At your command Fred Rich Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W151881 10-in. 11/17/1931 Where the blue of the night meets the gold of the day The Knickerbockers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W152136 10-in. 3/15/1932 My woman! Ted Lewis and his Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W152246 10-in. 8/1/1932 Love me to-night Art Jarrett Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Columbia W152337 10-in. 12/27/1932 Waltzing in a dream Enric Madriguera Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W152448 10-in. 7/26/1933 I would if I could but I can't Charles Kaley Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W152460 10-in. 7/29/1933 I would if I could but I can't Jack Teagarden Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W152608 10-in. 5/7/1934 Love me Henry Busse and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W98534 12-in. 5/12/1928 La golondrina Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia W98585 12-in. 9/18/1928 Silent night, holy night Paul Whiteman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quintet vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia W351038 10-in. 6/19/1931 At your command Bobby Dix ; Georgia Moonlight Serenaders [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W351128 10-in. 11/10/1931 Where the blue of the night meets the gold of the day Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W365040 10-in. 11/12/1931 Where the blue of the night meets the gold of the day Harold Richards Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble songwriter  
OKeh W400033 10-in. 1/20/1928 From Monday on Frankie Trumbauer’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist, baritone vocal, lyricist  
OKeh W400034 10-in. 1/20/1928 Mississippi mud Frankie Trumbauer’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist, baritone vocal  
OKeh W400721 10-in. 5/29/1928 From Monday on Red McKenzie ; Music Box Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
OKeh W401555 10-in. 1/25/1929 I'm crazy over you Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
OKeh W401556 10-in. 1/25/1929 Susianna Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
OKeh W401557 10-in. 1/25/1929 If I had you Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
OKeh W401560 10-in. 1/26/1929 The spell of the blues Dorsey Brothers Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
OKeh W401561 10-in. 1/26/1929 Let's do it (Let's fall in love) Dorsey Brothers Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
OKeh W401562 10-in. 1/26/1929 My kinda love (One way to paradise) Dorsey Brothers Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Brunswick E36848 10-in. 6/4/1931 At your command Sleepy Hall and his Collegians [Fred Rich Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick E37085 10-in. 8/19/1931 I apologize Bing Crosby Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, baritone vocal  
Brunswick E37086 10-in. 8/19/1931 Dancing in the dark Bing Crosby Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, baritone vocal  
(Results 126-150 of 1149 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Crosby, Bing," accessed October 31, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/101942.

Crosby, Bing. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 31, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/101942.

"Crosby, Bing." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 31 October 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/101942

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