Bing Crosby

Genres:	Big Band & Swing • Comedy • Comedy • Country & Bluegrass • Documentaries • Drama • Holiday & Seasonal • Holiday & Seasonal • Jazz • Kids & Family • Latin • Music Videos & Concerts • Musicals & The Arts • Pop / Rock • Silent Films • Sports & Recreation • Television • Vocals • World Music
Descriptive "tags":	jazz • swing • oldies • christmas • crooners • male vocalists
Decades Active:	1940s • 1950s • 1960s • 1970s • 1980s • 1990s • 2000s
Links online:	BBC Music • Wikipedia

Biography

Harry Lillis Crosby, 3 May 1903, Tacoma, Washington, USA, d. 14 October 1977, La Moraleja, Madrid, Spain. One of the most popular vocalists of all time, Crosby picked up his nickname through a childhood love of a strip-cartoon character in a local newspaper. After first singing with a jazz band at high school, he sang at university with a friend, Al Rinker. The duo decided to take a chance on showbusiness success, quit school and called on Rinker’s sister, Mildred Bailey, in the hope that she could help them find work. Their hopes were fulfilled and they were soon hired by Paul Whiteman. With the addition of Harry Barris they formed the singing trio the Rhythm Boys, and quickly became one of the major attractions of the Whiteman entertainment package. The popularity of the trio on such recordings as ‘Mississippi Mud’ and ‘I’m Coming Virginia’, and an appearance in the film The King Of Jazz (1930), gave Crosby an edge when he chose to...

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