Bing Crosby

Date of Birth: May 3, 1903

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: October 14, 1977

Biography

Bing Crosby, born Harry Lillis Crosby Jr. on May 3, 1903, in Tacoma, Washington, was an American singer, actor, and one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century. Crosby’s smooth bass-baritone voice made him an icon of the entertainment industry, and he was a pioneer of multimedia, with a career that spanned radio, television, and film. He gained immense popularity with his relaxed, crooning style and became a star with hits like “White Christmas,” which remains one of the best-selling singles of all time. Crosby’s career began in the mid-1920s when he joined Paul Whiteman’s Orchestra. He soon transitioned to a solo career, achieving widespread fame with his radio show “Kraft Music Hall,” which aired from 1935 to 1946. He also appeared in over 70 feature films, including the Academy Award-winning “Going My Way” (1944), for which he won the Oscar for Best Actor. His influence on the music industry was profound, helping to set the standard for popular music in the 20th century. Crosby was also a savvy businessman. He was an early investor in technologies like magnetic tape recording and television, and he owned a stake in the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. His contributions to entertainment and his charitable efforts earned him numerous accolades, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

5 Interesting Facts about Bing Crosby

1. Bing Crosby’s recording of “White Christmas” is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies worldwide.

2. He was the first performer to pre-record his radio shows and master commercial recordings on magnetic tape.

3. Crosby won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in “Going My Way” (1944).

4. He was a passionate golfer and helped popularize the sport in the United States.

5. Crosby was a part-owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team, and he famously kept a kinescope recording of the team’s Game 7 victory in the 1960 World Series.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Bing Crosby

1. “I think popular music in this country is one of the few things in the twentieth century that have made giant strides in reverse.”

2. “Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won’t make it ‘white.’”

3. “There is nothing in the world I wouldn’t do for Hope, and there is nothing he wouldn’t do for me… We spend our lives doing nothing for each other.”

4. “Frank (Sinatra) is a singer who comes along once in a lifetime, but why did he have to come in mine?”

5. “My golf is woeful, but I will never surrender.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Bing Crosby’s net worth was estimated to be around $50 million, which is equivalent to approximately $200 million today when adjusted for inflation.

Children

Bing Crosby had seven children. With his first wife, actress Dixie Lee, he had four sons: Gary, twins Dennis and Phillip, and Lindsay. With his second wife, actress Kathryn Grant, he had three children: Harry Lillis III (known as Harry), Mary Frances (known as Mary), and Nathaniel (known as Nathan).