Harry Lillis Crosby (1903-1977) was one of the best-loved show business personalities of his time. He set a crooning style which was imitated for years, recorded over 1,600 songs, had his own radio show for over 20 years, starred in over 60 films, and made many guest appearances and specials for television.

Bing Crosby was born in Tacoma, Washington, on May 2, 1903 (although there is some dispute about the year, which is also variously stated as 1901 and 1904). He was one of seven children, all of whom were given music lessons by their musically inclined parents (one brother, Bob Crosby, later earned fame and fortune as a band-leader in the 1930s and 1940s). While he was still a boy the family moved to Spokane, Washington, where he grew up, graduating from a Jesuit high school in 1920 and for a while attending the Jesuit Gonzaga University.

He was christened Harry Lillis Crosby at birth...