Chapter 8: Broadway and Musical Theater
Harry Lillis “Bing” Crosby was one of the most influential and beloved entertainers of the 20th century, with a career that spanned radio, film, television, and recorded music. Born in Tacoma, Washington, and raised in Spokane, Crosby grew up playing drums and singing with local jazz groups. In the mid-1920s, he formed a vaudeville duo with his friend Al Rinker, and the pair soon joined the Paul Whiteman Orchestra.
Crosby rose to national prominence in the early 1930s. In 1931, he launched a successful radio program that featured several of his early hit songs, including “Out of Nowhere,” “At Your Command,” and “Where the Blue of the Night (Meets the Gold of the Day),” which became his personal theme song. That same year, he signed a contract with Paramount Pictures, beginning a prolific film career. Crosby starred in a series of musical films, including Anything Goes (1936), The Road to Singapore (1940), and Holiday Inn (1942), where he performed Irving Berlin’s timeless hit “White Christmas”—still the best-selling single of all time having sold over 50 million copies worldwide..
Bing Crosby was not only a crossover media star but also a pioneering vocal stylist who reshaped the sound of American popular music. He helped popularize crooning, a new, more intimate style of singing made possible by the invention and widespread adoption of the microphone. Before the microphone, singers had to project their voices loudly to reach audiences in large theaters, often relying on a dramatic, operatic delivery. The microphone, an electronic device that converts sound waves into electrical signals which can then be amplified, allowed singers to be heard clearly even when singing softly. This technological shift enabled a quieter, more nuanced vocal style that emphasized subtle expression over sheer volume.
Crosby shaped his vocal delivery to mirror natural speech patterns, paying close attention to phrasing and lyric interpretation. He often described his singing as an extension of speech. This gave his performances a sense of intimacy and realism that set the standard for his crooning peers such as Dean Martin and Johnny Mathis
His rendition of Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes” is a classic example of this style. The song follows the typical 32-bar AABA form, a structure common in Broadway and jazz standards. In Crosby’s recording, the final BA section is repeated for emphasis, showcasing his ability to blend musical form with expressive delivery.
Throughout his career, Crosby recorded nearly 300 hit singles, more than any other artist of his time. His records are estimated to have sold over 300 million copies worldwide. He was also a major influence on future generations of vocalists, including Frank Sinatra, who credited Crosby as a foundational figure in his own development. Crosby’s ability to bridge jazz, popular music, and musical theater, along with his work in radio and film, made him one of the first true multimedia superstars.