History Music / BingCrosby

Crosby pioneered pre-recorded radio shows, and was an astute businessman. His investment in the Ampex Corporation spurred the development of videotape, and he also invested in a little company called Minute Maid. At one time he was a part owner of baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates. And in the '60s he started his own television production company, which had hit series with ''Ben Casey'' and ''Series/HogansHeroes''.

In 1942 he recorded what would become perhaps his most famous legacy: the Music/IrvingBerlin standard "White Christmas", which stayed at #1 on the charts for over 11 weeks when it was first released, and has remained a perennial Christmas favorite in the United States ever since. In fact, Crosby recorded a great many ChristmasSongs through the years, which is primarily how younger people are familiar with him. His album ''Music/MerryChristmas'' (1945), a CoverAlbum full of seasonal-themed songs, has sold over 15 million copies worldwide and is the second-best-selling Christmas album of all time, behind Music/ElvisPresley's ''Elvis' Christmas Album'' (1957). Other than "White Christmas," Crosby's best-known holiday songs are probably "Do You Hear What I Hear?", released in 1963, and "Peace on Earth/The Little Drummer Boy," an unlikely duet with British rock star Music/DavidBowie recorded for a posthumously-aired television special in 1977; the latter was subsequently released as a single in 1982, whereupon it became a huge international hit.

In 1942 he recorded what would become perhaps his most famous legacy: the Music/IrvingBerlin standard "White Christmas", which stayed at #1 on the charts for over 11 weeks when it was first released, and has remained a perennial Christmas favorite in the United States ever since. In fact, Crosby recorded a great many ChristmasSongs through the years, which is primarily how the younger generation is familiar with him. His album ''Music/MerryChristmas'' (1945), a CoverAlbum full of Christmas-themed songs, has sold over 15 million copies worldwide and is the second-best-selling Christmas album of all time, behind Music/ElvisPresley's ''Elvis' Christmas Album'' (1957). Other than "White Christmas," Crosby's best-known holiday songs are probably "Do You Hear What I Hear?", released in 1963, and "Peace on Earth/The Little Drummer Boy," an unlikely duet with British rock star Music/DavidBowie that was recorded for a posthumously-aired television special in 1977; the latter was subsequently released as a single in 1982, whereupon it became a huge international hit.

* C. K. Dexter-Haven, ''Film/HighSociety'' (1956) -- The {{Musical}} remake of ''Film/ThePhiladelphiaStory''. Bing plays the [[WTHCastingAgency Cary Grant part]].

-->-- Crosby's suggested epitaph for himself.

* VitriolicBestBuds: Supposedly with Creator/BobHope.