Bing Crosby

Who would have thought that the fourth of seven children born on May 2, 1903 in Tacoma Washington would become one of the best loved actors and singers in America? Harry Lillis Crosby became Bing Crosby and was set to be a lawyer. He loved to play drums and using, however, soon left law school and Tacoma. In 1930 his brother Everett sent a recording I Surrender, Dear sung by Bing to CBS. His success brought him roles in The Big Broadcast in 1932 and comedies made with Bob Hope. Crosby's signature song is White Christmas and he crooned most of his song. He had a baritone voice. Note of trivia: Bing had his earls pinned back for the film She Loves Me Not in 1934. Crosby and his three younger children did Minute Maid orange juice commercials and Bing owned quite a bit of stock in the company.
Crosby was also a dramatic actor in Little Boy Lost, The Country Girl, and Man on Fire. His last major film Stagecoach in 1966 is memorable and his televised movie Dr. Cook's Garden in 1971 won critical acclaim. Crosby was the first recipient of the Gammy Lifetime Achievement Award and inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1978. His songs In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening Sweet Leilani, Swinging on a Star and White Christmas won Oscars.
Crosby won the Oscar in Going my Way in 1944 and he was superb in The Country Girl in 1954. He loved playing golf and died playing golf outside Madrid, Spain in 1977. Crosby as married to Dixie Lee from 1930 until 1952 at her death. They had four children. He then married Kathryn Grant in 1957 and they had three children. Two of Bing's sons committed suicide an one died of lung cancer and one of a heart attack. His children from his second marriage praised Bing as kind and loving.