Bing Crosby

Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. was an American singer and actor who stood as the first true multimedia superstar of the 20th century. Over a career spanning more than five decades, Crosby sold hundreds of millions of records, hosted top-rated radio programs, and reigned as Hollywood's number-one box office draw for five consecutive years (1944–1948).

Crosby pioneered modern microphone singing: utilizing the dynamic microphone not as an amplifier to shout over an orchestra, but as an intimate instrument for conversational phrasing and gentle bass-baritone resonance. His relaxed, conversational delivery laid the technical and stylistic foundation for Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Dean Martin, and Tony Bennett.

His 1942 Irving Berlin composition "White Christmas" is certified by Guinness World Records as the best-selling physical single of all time, with worldwide sales surpassing 50 million copies. As an actor, Crosby won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Father Chuck O'Malley in Going My Way (1944) and starred with Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour in the beloved Road to... comedy series. On October 14, 1977, Crosby collapsed and died of a sudden heart attack after completing an 18-hole round of golf in Madrid, Spain.