Bing Crosby is widely recognized as one of the most influential entertainers of all time. He first came to popularity as America's most popular crooner during the 1930s, with his much-copied low-key manner, and during his long career he recorded more than sixteen hundred songs. He also starred in a long string of highly successful movies, including the classic Going My Way (1944), and, having amassed a huge fortune, eventually became a major presence behind the scenes in Hollywood.

Bing Crosby

Born Harry Lillis Crosby into a large family in Tacoma, Washington, Crosby grew up to study law at Gonzaga University in Spokane but soon became more interested in playing drums and singing with a local band. It was then that he adopted his professional name, reportedly borrowing the "Bing" from his favorite comic strip, The Bingville Bugle. In the early 1930s Crosby's brother Everett...