Born Harry Lillis Crosby in 1904 in Tacoma, Washington, Bing was a multimedia artist in radio, motion picture and records. He got his start when a friend asked him to play the drums for a five-piece band, but once his friend heard him sing, he was encouraged to use his vocal talents instead of the drums. He had an amazing ability to memorize a song after only hearing it once and he never learned to read music. Soon after, an audition in Los Angeles revealed his talent to the world. Throughout his career he was encouraged to try several styles of singing including Hawaiian. Bing sang “Sweet Leilani” in Waikiki Wedding and was awarded an Oscar for best film song of 1937. Eventually every American songwriter was writing songs for him and he began appearing on radio shows and later, movies and television. During World War II he was influential in helping to boost the morale of soldiers through his music. His popularity reached its peak after the war and he made more studio recordings than any other artist, including the most popular music recording ever (White Christmas). He died in 1977.
Bing Crosby.com about Bing by Gary Giddins from http://www.bingcrosby.com/welcome.html. (Accessed February 7, 2011)
Todaro, Tony. (1974) The Golden Years of Hawaiian Entertainment. Honolulu, HI: Tony Todaro Publishing p.92
Songs
- Blue Hawaii, Bing Crosby with Lani McIntire and his Hawaiians
- Sweet Leilani, Bing Crosby with Lani McIntire and his Hawaiians
- When You Dream About Hawaii, Bing Crosby with Lani McIntire and his Hawaiians
- Song Of The Islands, Bing Crosby with Dick McIntire and his Harmony Hawaiians
- Aloha Oe, Bing Crosby with Dick McIntire and his Harmony Hawaiians
- Song Of Old Hawaii, Bing Crosby with Dick McIntire and his Harmony Hawaiians
- Sweet Hawaiian Chimes, Bing Crosby with Harry Owens and his Royal Hawaiian Hotel Orchestra
- Little Angel, Bing Crosby with Harry Owens and his Royal Hawaiian Hotel Orchestra
- Dancing Under The Stars, Bing Crosby with Lani McIntire and his Hawaiians
- Palace In Paradise, Bing Crosby with Lani McIntire and his Hawaiians
- Hawaiian Paradise, Bing Crosby with Dick McIntire and his Harmony Hawaiians
- South Sea Island Magic, Bing Crosby with Dick McIntire and his Harmony Hawaiians
- To You, Sweetheart, Aloha, Bing Crosby with Dick McIntire's Harmony Hawaiians
- My Isle Of Golden Dreams, Bing Crosby with Dick McIntire's Harmony Hawaiians
- Sweet Leilani (From the Paramount Picture "Waikiki Wedding"), Bing Crosby with Lani McIntire and his Hawaiians
- Blue Hawaii (From the Paramount Picture "Waikiki Wedding"), Bing Crosby with Lani McIntire and his Hawaiians
- Sail Along, Silv'ry Moon, Bing Crosby with Lani McIntire and his Hawaiians