About
Born Harry Lillis Crosby Jr. in Tacoma, Washington, Bing Crosby became a major figure in 20th-century entertainment, excelling in singing, radio, and film. He sold over half a billion records, and his rendition of 'White Christmas' (1942) remains the best-selling single of all time. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1944 for Going My Way. A pioneer of pre-recorded radio, he helped develop magnetic tape recording. He received the first Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1962) and was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1998.
* 1903-05-03 — † 1977-10-14
Major works
- White Christmas (1942)song
- Going My Way (1944)film
- The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)film
- Kraft Music Hall (1936)radio show
Key milestones
- 1944Won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Going My Way.
- 1962First recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (then called the Golden Achievement Award).
- 1998Inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame.
Themes
Popular musicRadioCinemaTechnological innovationMass entertainment
Sources: pbs.org · loc.gov · gonzaga.edu
