Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby remains today one of the most successful recording artists of all time with record sales estimated in the hundreds of millions worldwide. Crosby has had numerous jazz affiliations including with his first vocal group, The Rhythm Boys, but is normally classified as a pop music figure.1
Bing was born Harry Lillis Crosby on May 3, 1903, the fourth child of Harry Lowe and Catherine Helen (Harrigan) Crosby in a house built by his father at 1112 North J Street in Tacoma, Wash. Bing had no birth certificate, and the actual date of his birth was shrouded in mystery until after his death.2
Arguably the first true multi-media star, Bing Crosby’s influence on popular culture and popular music is enormous — from 1934 to 1954 he held a nearly unrivaled command of record sales, radio ratings and motion picture grosses. He was usually considered to be a member of popular music’s “holy trinity” of ultra-icons, alongside Elvis Presley and The Beatles.3
Before this he had appeared during the 1930s in several light musicals, and in the 1940s he carved out a new career as the wisecracking companion of Bob Hope in the seven ‘Road’ pictures. He joined Louis Armstrong in the film High Society (1956) and on the album Bing Crosby-Louis Armstrong (1960).4
Some of the most popular Christmas songs arranged in a mixture of easy listening and jazz styles. Jack Frost takes influences from well-known contemporary artists, such as Michael Buble, Norah Jones and John Mayer, as well as Bing Crosby.5