History Music / BingCrosby

** Sugar Bear, the cartoon mascot for Post Sugar Crisp cereal, has a voice based on Crosby's.

* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Crosby was a favorite target for parody by cartoon artists (particularly for WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes / [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Merrie Melodies]]), appearing, for instance in "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIa0AG17tyg Bingo Crosbyana]]" (1936), "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZqdUhQru20 Hollywood Steps Out]]" (1941), "What's Up, Doc?" (1949), and, many years later, transmogrified into [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aKA6q1WSq8 Hugh]] on ''WesternAnimation/TazMania''.

** The Parson, an acquaintance of Rev. Lovejoy from WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons, is based on Bing Crosby's Father O'Malley character from ''Film/GoingMyWay'' and ''Film/TheBellsOfStMarys'', including the golf.

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.

Crosby popularized golf and sponsored several early tournaments. He also competed in both the British and American Pro-Amateur Tournaments. [[BreadEggsMilkSquick He also died of a heart attack shortly after playing a game of golf with some of his friends.]] Reputedly, his [[FamousLastWords/RealLife last words]] before his fatal heart attack were, "That was a great game of golf, fellas."

* StepUpToTheMicrophone: At the time when Crosby was starting out, convention was that bands didn’t employ ''singers'', who weren’t entirely considered proper musicians; an instrumentalist would just step up when a voice was needed. But Crosby, who had no particular instrumental skills, was hired by bandleader Paul Whiteman for his voice. So he was required to pose with a violin, with rubber strings so he couldn’t make inconvenient noises.

** "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is about a soldier in World War II singing about wanting to be back home rather than being at war.

* TheCameo: In the '40s Crosby became so associated with Bob Hope that he made cameos in Hope films ''Film/MyFavoriteBrunette'' and ''Film/ThePrincessAndThePirate''.

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 part owner of baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates.

* GraveHumor: Not intentionally. [[EpicFail The year of birth displayed on his grave is incorrect. (1904 instead of 1903.)]]

* DistinguishedGentlemansPipe: One of his trademarks. The cover of his album ''New Tricks'' (1957) featured an illustration of a basset hound at the microphone in studio, smoking a pipe and donning Crosby's usual [[NiceHat trilby hat]].

Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer and actor whose trademark warm bass-baritone voice made him the best-selling recording artist of the 20th century, having sold over one billion records, tapes, compact discs, and digital downloads the world over. Suffice to say, that means very few people agreed with his self-assessment of his singing skills.

* TheCameo: In the '40s Crosby became so associated with Bob Hope that he made cameos in Hope films ''Film/MyFavoriteBlonde'' and ''Film/ThePrincessAndThePirate''.

Crosby started his career in the late 1920s as one of The Rhythm Boys, a vocal trio that accompanied bandleader Paul Whiteman's orchestra. He broke out as a solo singer in the early 1930s, recording several hits for the Brunswick label before starting a long association with Creator/DeccaRecords in 1934. In 1942 Crosby recorded what would become his most famous legacy: the Music/IrvingBerlin song "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 over 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 recorded for a posthumously-aired television special in 1977; the latter tune was also released as a single in 1982, whereupon it became a huge international hit.

Crosby started his career as a singer and made it big in the early '30s with Creator/DeccaRecords. In 1942 he recorded what would become his most famous legacy: the Music/IrvingBerlin song "White Christmas". When it was released, it stayed at #1 on the charts for over 11 weeks, and it has remained a perennial Christmas favorite in the United States ever since. In fact, Crosby recorded a great many ChristmasSongs over 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 recorded for a posthumously-aired television special in 1977; the latter tune was also released as a single in 1982, whereupon it became a huge international hit.

* DistinguishedGentlemansPipe: One of his trademarks.

* DistinguishedGentlemansPipe

* Father Chuck O'Malley, ''Film/GoingMyWay'' (1944) and ''Film/TheBellsOfStMarys'' (1945)

* Frank Elgin, ''Film/TheCountryGirl'' (1954)

Crosby started his career as a singer and made it big in the early '30s with Creator/DeccaRecords. In 1942 he recorded what would become his most famous legacy: the Music/IrvingBerlin song "White Christmas". When it was released, it stayed at #1 on the charts for over 11 weeks, and it has remained a perennial Christmas favorite in the United States ever since. In fact, Crosby recorded numerous other ChristmasSongs over the years, which is mainly 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," a duet he recorded with British rock star Music/DavidBowie for a posthumously-aired TV special in 1977; the latter tune was released as a single in 1982, whereupon it became a huge international hit.

Crosby started his career as a singer and made it big in the early 1930s with Creator/DeccaRecords. In 1942 he recorded what would become his most famous legacy: the Music/IrvingBerlin song "White Christmas". When it was released, it stayed at #1 on the charts for over 11 weeks, and it has remained a perennial Christmas favorite in the United States ever since. In fact, Crosby recorded numerous ChristmasSongs over the years, which is mainly 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," a duet he recorded with British rock star Music/DavidBowie for a posthumously-aired TV special in 1977; the latter tune was released as a single in 1982, whereupon it became a huge international hit.

[[quoteright:330:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/BingCrosby_375.jpg]]

Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer and actor whose trademark warm bass-baritone voice made him the best-selling recording artist of the 20th century, having sold over one billion records, tapes, compact discs and digital downloads around the world. Suffice to say, that means very few people agreed with his self-assessment of his singing skills.

Crosby started his career as a singer and made it big in the early 1930s with Creator/DeccaRecords. In 1942 he recorded what would become his most famous legacy: the Music/IrvingBerlin song "White Christmas". When it was released, it stayed at #1 on the charts for over 11 weeks, and it has remained a perennial Christmas favorite in the United States. In fact, Crosby recorded numerous ChristmasSongs over the years, which is mainly 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," perhaps his best-known holiday song is "Peace On Earth/The Little Drummer Boy," a duet he recorded with art rock star Music/DavidBowie for a posthumously-aired TV special in 1977; the song was released as a single in 1982, whereupon it became a huge international hit.

Crosby appeared in almost 80 different films over six decades. As a box-office draw, he was surpassed only by Creator/ClarkGable and Creator/JohnWayne. He won the Best Actor [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward Oscar]] for ''Film/GoingMyWay'' in 1944. His most famous films include the ''Film/RoadTo'' series filmed with Creator/BobHope, and of course, ''Film/WhiteChristmas''.

Crosby started his career as a singer and made it big in the early 1930s with Creator/DeccaRecords. In 1942 he recorded what would become his most famous legacy: the Music/IrvingBerlin song "White Christmas". When it was released, it stayed at #1 on the charts for over 11 weeks. It has remained a perennial Christmas favorite in the United States. In fact, Crosby recorded numerous ChristmasSongs over the years, which is mainly 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," perhaps his best-known holiday song is "Peace On Earth/The Little Drummer Boy," a duet he recorded with art rock star Music/DavidBowie for a posthumously-aired TV special in 1977; the song was released as a single in 1982, whereupon it became a huge international hit.

-->-- Crosby, on himself.

-> ''"He was an average guy who could carry a tune."''
-->-- Crosby's epitaph, written by himself.

* Josh Mallon V, ''[[Film/RoadTo Road to Singapore]]'' (1940) -- The first of his seven "Road" pictures with Creator/BobHope.

* Duke Johnson and Junior Hooten, ''[[Film/RoadTo Road to Utopia]]'' (1946)
* Scat Sweeny, ''[[Film/RoadTo Road to Rio]]'' (1947)

* George Cochran, ''[[Film/RoadTo Road to Bali]]'' (1952) -- The only "Road" picture in color.

* Harry Turner, ''[[Film/RoadTo The Road to Hong Kong]]'' (1962) -- The last of the "Road" pictures.

* Allan A. Dale, ''Robin and the 7 Hoods'' (1964) -- A RoaringTwenties re-telling of the Myth/RobinHood legend, with Music/FrankSinatra as the lead.

!!Tropes invoked by this actor:

[[quoteright:325:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/BingCrosby_375.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:325:Der Bingle.[[note]][[Webcomic/{{Homestuck}} Who's this douchebag?]][[/note]]]]

Crosby started his career as a singer and made it big in the early 1930s with Creator/DeccaRecords. In 1942 he recorded what would become his most famous legacy: the Music/IrvingBerlin song "White Christmas". When it was released, it stayed at #1 on the charts for over 11 weeks. It has remained a perennial Christmas favorite in the United States. In fact, Crosby recorded numerous ChristmasSongs over the years, which is mainly 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," perhaps his best-known holiday song is "Peace On Earth/The Little Drummer Boy," a duet he recorded with ''glam and progressive rock'' star Music/DavidBowie in 1977 that became a huge international hit in 1982, five years after Crosby's death ... and more than 50 years after Crosby recorded his first songs.

* GraveHumor: Not intentionally. [[EpicFail The year of birth displayed on his grave is incorrect. (1904 instead of 1903.)

Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 2, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer and actor whose trademark warm bass-baritone voice made him the best-selling recording artist of the 20th century, having sold over one billion records, tapes, compact discs and digital downloads around the world. Suffice to say, that means very few people agreed with his self-assessment of his singing skills.

Crosby popularized golf and sponsored several early tournaments. He also competed in both the British and American Pro-Amateur Tournaments. [[BreadEggsMilkSquick He also died of a heart attack shortly after playing a game of golf with some of his friends.]] Reputedly his, [[FamousLastWords/RealLife last words]] before his fatal heart attack were, "That was a great game of golf, fellas."