Biography

Bing Crosby was born on the third of May in 1903 in Tacoma, Washington to Harry Lowe Crosby and Catherine Helen Harrigan Crosby. Crosby was originally named Harry Lillis Crosby. Bing's mother was of Irish descent and his father was a descended from a maritime family. Crosby was the fourth of seven children. Laurence born 1895, Everett born 1896, Edward born 1900, Bing born 1903, Catherine born 1904, Mary Rose born 1906, and George Robert born 1913. The family moved in 1906 to Spokane where Bing grew up attending Gonzaga High School then attending Gonzaga University. Bing studied law but was more interested in playing the drums after ordering a set of drums he joined a local band. In 1925 when the band broke up Bing and his bandmate Al Rinker the piano player left for Los Angeles to seek out fame. One night in 1926 is when Bing and Al got their big break when orchestra leader Paul Whiteman heard them sing and hired them.

In 1927 at a performance in New York acoustic problems arose causing the audience to have difficulty hearing the vocals of Bing and Al. After this problem the two of them hired a thrid vocalist Harry Barris returning them to orchestra as the Rhythm Boys. The Rhythm Boys became Whiteman's main attraction.

Whiteman released Bing, Al, and Harry after Bing's arrest for drunk driving during the making of The King of Jazz a movie with Whiteman and his orchestra. The trio later found a job with Gus Arnheim's band at the Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles. This job began to push Bing to become a solo act where in 1931 he recorded his first solo hit I Surrender Dear. After the relese of this song crowds came to hear Bing and the group. Bing began skipping shows in which the manager began to dock his pay causing Bing to walk out along with the Rhythm Boys. The manager began to get the locals to ban the trio for breach of contract forcing the Rhythm Boys to break up. Bing then went out with his own career since he was known becoming a solo artist.

After the band broke up Bing also started getting into film. Bing caught the eye of Max Sennett a film producer who saw Bing performing at the Cococnut Grove. Sennett hired Bing in six short comedy roles leading to a Paramount contract. Bing got the role in The Big Broadcast in 1932 which were his first fifty-five films. Leading to winning an Oscar in 1948 for his performance in Going My Way. Starring in hit movies with stars like Bob Hope, Grace Kelly, Dorthy Lamour, Fred Astaire, and Rosemary Clooney.

During Bing's fast changing career in 1930 he married Dixie Lee a singer and occasional actress in films. They had four children Gary (1933-1995), twin boys Phillip (1934-2004) and Dennis (1934-1990), and the baby Lindsey (1938-1989). After Dixie died Bing married his Kathryn Grant in 1957. They had three children Harry Lillis Jr (1958), Mary Frances (1959), and Nathaniel (1961).

After years of entertaining people Bing Crosby died on the fourteenth of October in 1977 outside of Madrid, Spain. Bing was playing a round of golf at a golf course outside Madrid Spain, he had just finished a round of golf when he had a heart attack. Bing Crosby died doing one of the things he love to do, playing golf.