Bing Crosby's 105th birth date anniversary is coming up on Saturday, May 3rd, 2008. I know there are several postings on the board dealing with Bing, but I thought what an enjoyment we all could have if we had what I call a 'Bing Bash'.

One thread that we all could post anything that we think others would enjoy and would be pertinent to Bing and his many contributions to the entertainment world. (i.g. photos, videos, movie recommendations, songs, TV appearances, stories, trivia, any personal sightings and/or rmeetings, special web sites, your personal thoughts about the man.. etc...).

I know it seems a little early to start this, but I feel that there is a lot that can be contributed and this would be sufficent time for all to participate if they so choose. We would culminate it on his birthday Saturday, May 3rd, 2008.

I feel a little arkward in proposing this, since I can't see faces to read a reaction. So, I hope it will meet with approval and it not seem presumptuous on my part.

So I guess it's up to me to make the first post.

Don...



May 3, 2008 will be the 105th birthday of Bing Crosby. Here are a few meritable musical memories and illustrious images to help commemorate and celebrate this harmonious happening and auspicious anniversary.


Art Rinker, Bing Crosby & Bob Hunter 1928
------------------------------------------------------------------------Bing 1954


Bing Crosby - All American Rose Selection 1981

Hybrid Tea - Dark clear orange.
A vigorous stout-growing-rose whose glossy
dark green leaves and long-lasting brilliantly-tinted
blooms croon a sweet tune in the garden. Long
cutting stems make Bing a 'star' in any bouquet.


March 26, 2008 opening of Vancouver Time Capsule from 1949 with documents on Bing


Now enjoy a 28 year playlist romp with Bing starting with 1927.

I didn't necessarily choose his top hits, but even Bing's non-hits are still good listening. Enjoy.

And for another way to celebrate... I see that TCM is running about 12 hours of Bing movies on May 2:

Pennies From Heaven (1936)
The Bells Of St. Mary's (1945)
Road to Bali (1952)
The Country Girl, The (1954)
High Society (1956)
Man On Fire (1957)
The Road To Hong Kong (1962)

I loved your playlist Don.

Here's another little gem, the rejected take of We're A Couple Of Soldiers My Baby and Me, it's priceless

Don, I'll add to your Bing Bash with the following trio of fun photos showing Bing with some other familiar faces (or voices).


Bing With the Boswell Sisters


Posing with Paul Whiteman, Harry Barris, and Al Rinker.


And here is Bing on drums with the rest of the "band" made up of Jack Benny (on violin of course), Dick Powell, K. Murray, and Shirley Ross. If we only had the audio for this one...

Thanks Terry. I hope you use WMP, the playlist works best with it and lyrics show if you use the full screen visualization. For those using RealPlayer, yes the music plays but it doesn't handle the lyrics or even offer scrolling.


Sounds like a good time was being had by all. That was a 1932 recording with the Lennie Hayton Orchestra

Don...
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Great photos, Laughland. The one with the Bozzies got me searching for some recordings they might had made with Bing. There's several out there he made with just Connee, but I could only find these two he made with all three sisters.

Gems from George White's Scandals -- The Thrill is Gone / Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries (Mills Brothers, Boswell Sisters, Victor Young Orchestra) 3 (1931)

Lawd, You Made the Night Too Long (Boswell Sisters and Don Redman Orchestra) 1932



Don...

Off the top of my head those are the only two recordings I can think of.

FWIW, the Boswell Sisters also appeared quite a few times on Bing's radio program. I was thinking that the photo might have been from that.

Well, I suppose I can add my old "home movies" to Don's worthwhile tribute. When I was in Spokane a couple of years ago, I made a special trip to Gonzaga University to see Bing's childhood home which is situated right on the campus grounds. Admittedly, the videos are quite short and lame because I was feeling rather intrusive while taking them; The home, although open to casual visitors, is also used as a busy alumni office for the University.


Outside front

Dining Room & Living Room

Kitchen

Upstairs

Leaving

_ _ _

Crosbyana Room - panorama

Crosbyana Room - showcase of 45's

This clip is taken from Paramounts "Hollywood On Parade" star newsreel series from 1932. He Sings: Auf Wiedersehen, My Dear


Click Here: See Bing Sing From 1932

More Bing Stuff....

In the early 1930's Bing became a star of both radio and motion pictures and also became King of the Crooners. It was doing this period, 1931-1933, that he severely strained his vocal chords, and as a result, he had to lower his pitch and be coached on proper breathing technique. The result was the warmer, more intimate style most people associate with Bing Crosby. Bing's Early Jazz
Songs included - Mississippi Mud, Dinah, Sweet Georgia Brown, Some of These Days, St. Louis Blues, Shine, My Honey's Loving Arms, Someday Sweetheart and Moonburn.


"We'll Make Hay While The Sun Shines" from the 1933 musical 'Going Hollywood'. Bing's versatility begins to really show early with this feature.
YouTube


Bing's peak as a multi-media star would surely have to be 1944, when he won a best actor Oscar for 'Going My Way', as well as scoring several #1 hit records. ('Swinging on a Star', 'Don't Fence Me In', 'I'll Be Seeing You' 'I Love You', 'I'll Be Seeing You', 'A Hot Time in the Town of Berlin' among them).
'Going My Way 1944 - Paramount'
l to r: Bing Crosby, Jean Heather, Barry Fitzgerald




Dean Martin once proclaimed, 'Bing's the daddy of us all. We all learned how to sing from listening to his records'.
YouTube


Crosby Collection at Gonzaga
(Crosbyana Room Slide Show)
Note slide #18 and the 20th anniversary recognition in 1951 of Bing being a 'Star'. So he made 'star status' in 1931.

Don...

I was perusing through Brian Rust's Popular Music Discography yesterday under Bing Crosby and wondered aloud if the Victor test pressing of the Rhythm Boys performing a medley of songs on 4-29-1927 existed at all? This would be quite a find.