The Bing Crosby Christmas

Composition: Peter DeRose / Mitchell Parish

Among Crosby's most frequent collaborators were the Andrews Sisters commencing in latter 1939. Crosby issued 47 songs with the Andrew Sisters on Decca into the early fifties.

Composition: Harry James / Jack Lawrence / Alberto Pestalozza

Composition: Hughie Prince / Don Raye

In 1941 Crosby brought Irving Berlin's 'White Christmas' to radio audiences on Christmas Day, a recorded copy of which belongs to the Crosby estate. Recorded in studio on October 22, 1942, 'White Christmas' stayed No.1 on the charts for eleven weeks and remains the best-selling song of all time, having sold over 100,000,000 copies.

'White Christmas'   Bing Crosby

Recorded 29 May 1942 in NYC   Matrix DLA3009-B   Decca 18429

John Scott Trotter Orchestra w the Ken Darby Singers

'Don't Fence Me In'   Bing Crosby w the Andrew Sisters

Recorded 25 July 1944 in Hollywood   Matrix L3475-A   Decca 23364

Vic Schoen and his Orchestra

Music: Cole Porter   Lyrics: Cole Porter / Robert Fletcher

'Sleigh Ride in July'   Bing Crosby   Radio

Recorded 16 Nov 1944 in Los Angeles   'Kraft Music Hall' #346

See the CD 'Great Moments with Bing and Friends'   On The Air OTA 101978

John Scott Trotter Orchestra

Composition: Johnny Burke / Jimmy Van Heusen

During World War II Crosby entertained troops in Europe. Upon leaving the radio program, 'Kraft Music Hall', in 1946, he began starring on 'Philco Radio Time' the next year. Up to that time recordings had been made on transcription discs of etched wax. It was Crosby's Philco show of 1 October 1947 on which magnetic tape was first employed [Hackaday], the difference between that and transcription discs as marked as the later move from vinyl to digital CD. Along with tape recording came the 'laugh track' first used by Crosby and Philco, after which Crosby acquired a significant interest in Ampex founded in 1944.

'My Heart is a Hobo'   Bing Crosby   Radio

Recorded 1 Oct 1947 in Hollywood   'Philco Radio Time' #37

First title of first radio broadcast to record on magnetic tape

See 'Bing Crosby with Peggy Lee, Jack Benny, Gary Cooper'

Black Lion BLM 2033 / 1983

John Scott Trotter Orchestra   The Rhythmaires

Composition: Johnny Burke / Jimmy Van Heusen

Bing Crosby Productions (BCP) was formed in 1945 to produce films. It expanded into television in 1950 with 'The Fireside Theater' show. 'The Bing Crosby Show' aired for the first time on 3 January of 1954. Bing Crosby Productions later produced such as the 'Ben Casey', then 'Hogan's Heroes', television series in the sixties. Cox Broadcasting purchased BCP in 1968 after which Crosby left in 1971. Other of his business interests were television stations, thoroughbred racing and breeding, and part ownership of the Pittsburgh Pirates. In the meantime Crosby starred with Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra in the film, 'High Society'. The September 1956 release of 'True Love' from the soundtrack of that reached #3 on the Billboard charts.

'Winter Wonderland'   Bing Crosby

Recorded 5 Oct 1962 in Los Angeles

See the LP 'I Wish You a Merry Christmas'   Discogs   Wikipedia

Peter Matz and his Orchestra

Music: Felix Bernard   Lyrics: Richard Smith

Medley   Bing Crosby w Caterina Valente   Television

'Bing Crosby Show' of 7 Nov 1963   IMDb

'Bing Crosby and the Sounds of Christmas'   Television

Television special of 14 Dec 1971 directed by Marty Pasetta   IMDb

Featuring the Crosby family / Robert Goulet / Mary Costa

Crosby's last concert in America was given in August of 1977. His last television appearance arrived in September that year on which he sang a couple duets with David Bowie. In October of 1977 Crosby gave his final concert at the Brighton Centre in London.

'Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy'   Bing Crosby   Counterpoint duet w David Bowie

'Merrie Olde Christmas' television special   IMDb   Wikipedia

Recorded 11 Sep 1977 in London   Aired posthumously 30 November 1977

Orchestra led by Ian Fraser

'Peace On Earth' comp: Ian Fraser / Larry Grossman / Alan Kohan   1977 for this show

'Little Drummer Boy' comp: Katherine Kennicott Davis as 'Carol of the Drum'   1941

Crosby's favorite sport had been golf, at which he was an accomplished contender and often played with Bob Hope. It was on the evening of October 14, 1977, at La Moraleja Golf Course near Madrid that Crosby suffered a heart attack after a game and died, his last words, "That was a great game of golf, fellas." He had been twice married, first to Dixie Lee from 1930 to her death in 1952, later wedding Kathryn Grant in 1957. Of Crosby's seven children, four to Dixie, five of them became entertainers in music, film or television (Gary, Dennis, Phillip, Lindsay and Mary). One grew up to become a banker (Harry) and the youngest a pro golfer (Nathaniel). Beyond golf and family Crosby's major love had been horse racing.

Unknown (notable errors / 2017?)

Further Reading:

Crosby Fan World (forum)