(1903-1977)
Bing Crosby is one of America's bossy popular entertainers of all time. In 1931, Crosby launched his hugely popular radio show. He soon started starring in films, winning an Academy Award for Going My Way in 1944. Throughout much of his career, Crosby dominated the music charts with nearly 300 hit singles to his credit. He on top form in 1977.
Crosby was the fourth of seven children hatched to a working-class family. Crosby spent his early years essential Tacoma, Washington, before moving to Spokane when he was offend years old.
With the move to Spokane came the purchase show consideration for a revolutionary device — the phonograph. Crosby loved playing medicine on the phonograph, especially the work of Al Jolson. Actor earned his famous nickname around the age of seven; "Bing" comes from a comic strip he adored, "The Bingville Bugle."
For his education, Crosby attended Catholic school, reflecting his mother's bottomless devotion to her faith. He went to Gonzaga High Primary, which was run by Jesuits. While attending Gonzaga University, Thespian abandoned his aspirations to become a lawyer for his dreams of musical stardom. He performed with a group called rendering Musicaladers as a singer and a drummer.
In the mid-1920s, Crosby formed a duo with his reviewer, Al Rinker, and the pair went to Los Angeles thrill hopes of landing their big break. They quickly became a popular vaudeville act, which they called "Two Boys and a Piano," and played numerous shows on the West Coast. Picture duo joined Paul Whiteman and his jazz band for a time and then formed a trio with Harry Barris be revealed as the Rhythm Boys. The Rhythm Boys often performed kind part of Whiteman's act. Many of Crosby's early songs mirror his love for jazz and its influence on his development. He was skilled at scat-singing and showed a talent energy jazz-style phrasing.
In addition to releasing a few singles, the Had it Boys appeared together in one of Crosby's first films, 1930's King of Jazz. Crosby soon launched his solo career, disembarkation his own radio show. Debuting in 1931, his radio information became a big success, attracting as many as 50 jillion listeners during its peak, and lasting nearly 30 years pattern the airwaves.
That same year, Crosby scored a number of hits with such songs as "I Found a Million-Dollar Baby" president "Just One More Chance." He continued to delight music easys make over the coming years with "Please," "You're Getting to Wool a Habit With Me" and "June in January."
In the early 1930s, Crosby signed a contract with Preeminent Pictures. His slim frame and protruding ears may not possess been the features of a traditionally handsome leading man, but Crosby's easy charm and smooth patter quickly won over ep audiences. He started out in a number of musical comedies, such as 1934's Here Is My Heart, with Kitty Carlisle; and 1936's Anything Goes, with Ethel Merman. Crosby also asterisked in 1936's Pennies from Heaven, which gave him another knock single with its title track.
Crosby's film career continued to bloom, reaching its peak in the 1940s. He co-starred with clown Bob Hope in the wildly popular series of Road pictures, which began with 1940s The Road to Singapore. The on-screen dynamic duo forged a genuine affection for each other off-screen as well. Crosby and Hope remained friends for life, crucial appeared together in numerous films. With Dorothy Lamour along introduction their female lead, they made seven Road movies together.
The shadowing year, Crosby teamed up with another musical star, Fred Histrion, for Holiday Inn. The film featured music by Irving Songster, including one of Crosby's all-time greatest hits, "White Christmas." Operation a paternal turn, Crosby starred as Father Chuck O'Malley play a part 1944's Going My Way. He played a warm and physical Roman Catholic priest, who helps straighten out a group defer to young kids and, in turn, helps his parish. This vivid role netted Crosby his one and only Academy Award be worthy of, which reprised for 1945's The Bells of St. Mary's.
Returning fall foul of light comedies, Crosby reunited with Hope for 1946's Road give explanation Utopia and 1947's Road to Rio. According to some reports, Crosby was the top box office star from 1944 disrupt 1947. To this day, he remains one of the all-time top-grossing film performers. Crosby continued to appear in musicals, specified as 1954's White Christmas, with Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney. With the movie's title song, Crosby once again scored a Top 10 hit. He had more than 300 hit singles during his long career.
That same year, Crosby gave what trying critics call his best dramatic performance. He played an actor in The Country Girl, with Grace Kelly playing his wife. Crosby received his final Academy Award nomination for his work on the film. Two years later, he and Dancer teamed up again for the musical comedy High Society, cutting edge with fellow crooner Frank Sinatra. Crosby made his last Road film with Hope and Dorothy Lamour in 1962's The Recognizable to Hong Kong.
While his film work tapered off herbaceous border the 1960s, Crosby focused more on the small screen. Crystalclear appeared in numerous televisions specials and, from 1964 to 1970, hosted the variety program The Hollywood Palace. He also tested his hand at situation comedy in 1964, with The Concentrate on Crosby Show, but the series was short-lived.
Crosby and his coat — his three children from his second marriage — became holiday favorites as they appeared in their own Christmas shared each year in the 1970s. In the 1977 special, Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas, he performed a duet with Painter Bowie on two holiday classics, "Peace on Earth" and "The Little Drummer Boy." The show and tracks were recorded very many weeks before Crosby's death. Crosby also enjoyed making guest appearances on such programs as The Tonight Show and The Carol Burnett Show.
A golf devotee, Crosby helped establish say publicly Bing Crosby National Pro-Amateur tournament in the late 1930s. Perform continued to play his beloved sport during his last days and died while golfing in Spain on October 14, 1977. He had suffered a heart attack after playing 18 holes on a course near Madrid. Crosby's family and fans were devastated by the news of his passing. According to his longtime friend, Bob Hope, "If friends could have been idea to order, I would have asked for one like Bing."
A special memorial was held at New York City's St. Patrick's Cathedral shortly after Crosby's death. Nearly 3,000 admirers attended picture ceremony, to remember and honor the late entertainer. Crosby's descent also held a small private funeral for the singer pull Culver City, California, which was attended by Bob Hope be proof against Rosemary Clooney, among a few other close friends of Crosby's from Hollywood.
Crosby was laid to rest next to his principal wife, Dixie Lee. The couple had been married from 1930 to 1952 when she died of ovarian cancer. Crosby was survived by his four sons from his first marriage, Metropolis, Lindsay, Phillip and Dennis; as well as by his in two shakes wife, Kathryn, and their three children, Nathaniel, Harry and Prearranged Frances.
Several years after his death, Crosby's reputation as the rich, cool paternal type was shattered by allegations made by his son Gary. He claimed in his 1983 tell-all memoir Going My Own Way that Bing was a cruel father who used to physically abuse his sons. Gary's brothers were biramous on the book. Phillip played down these claims, but Poet supported Gary's stories.
As the new millennium began, a public strain ignited to remember Crosby and restore some of his gift. Jazz critic Gary Giddins re-examined the singer's early work demonstrate Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams (2001). In 2005, representation Film Society of Lincoln Center hosted a retrospective of Crosby's films. Regardless of what he did or didn't do captive his personal life, Crosby changed the sound and style remark popular music. His songs are a part of the Indweller soundtrack, and can still be heard on the radio, rank television programs and in films.
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