In late 1977, TV viewers witnessed the odd pairing of a young “Heroes” era David Bowie singing a Christmas duet with the much older Bing Crosby. No doubt, there were younger rock fans puzzled by the old guy who had died a month before the TV special aired. It’s a fact that Crosby’s music today is rarely played (with one notable exception) or celebrated the way, for example, Frank Sinatra’s still is. Yet, Harry “Bing” Crosby was the most popular recording artist of the first half of the 20th century. With over 1600 recordings, it’s doubtful anyone ever made more. Famous for his intimate, easy, conversational crooning style, he learned to take full advantage of a microphone’s ability to pick up and project the subtleties of his voice.

         Not only was Crosby the best-selling recording artist of the ’30s and ’40s, he was also a broadcast giant, heard regularly on radio’s Kraft Music Hall, and a huge star presence in the movies, even claiming a Best Actor Oscar in 1944. Twice Crosby had a hand in saving the record industry, once by pushing for lower retail costs for discs in exchange for artists’ receiving royalties per records sold, and a few years later for helping to pioneer new recording technology with the use of magnetic tape. Though “Pennies from Heaven”, “Swinging on a Star”, and Don’t Fence Me In” (with The Andrews Sisters) were big hits, the song he is most remembered for today is “White Christmas” with its 50 million copies sold, still the best selling single of all-time.                                                 – Steve Williams (5/1/23)