Bing Crosby

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Bing Crosby donning a German Stahlhelm in 1944 after returning from a USO show in France & England. 

Biography

Bing Crosby was one of the most influential muscians/actors of his day. Known widely as "Der Bingle", he soared to stardom in the early '30s and never stopped rising. During the war years, Bing was known widely as an avid spokesman for the war effort in his many war bond drives and campaigns he did with Bob Hope. Even Adolf Hitler enjoyed his music so much that there was a reward to the man who captured Crosby and brought him to Hitler. He also was quite popular with the Andrews Sisters and their success in multiple songs benefitting the war effort such as "Victory Polka in 1943 and "There'll be a Hot Time in Berlin" in 1944. Bing also starred in multiple films in his career, White Christmas being one of the more popular ones. His fame continued until the 1970s when he passed away after one final rendition of "The Little Drummer Boy" with famed artist David Bowie.

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Movie poster for the film

White Christmas- In 1954, a monumental holiday hit was created by Paramount Pictures. It starred famous crooner, Bing Crosby alongside famed comedian Danny Kaye. Supporting actresses Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen also starred as the two men's love interests.The premise of the film is that Crosby and Kaye must help their old army commander to save his hotel in the mountains from foreclosure. They bring in a whole musical troupe and perform a live show to benefit the commander whilst falling in love with Clooney and Ellen. The movie exemplifies the war generation and reminisces of the bleak situation that the nation experience nine years prior. The film had monumental success of $30 million. Oddly enough, the song, White Christmas was written for another holiday movie made by Paramount, Holiday Inn. Both the song and the movie remain popular to this day and the film is quite famously known as one of the best holiday movies ever.

The Music

While trying to give a summation of his whole career in one song may seem unjust, this one song does show vividly a strong sense of patriotism and nationalsim in the nation throughout the war years. Crosby performs this 1943 smash hit with his Decca partners, The Andrews Sisters.