♫Ba Ba Ba... Booo... Day♫

Today in Music History: May 2, 1904

The "Booo" in this day does not come from a ghost nor does it mean it is Halloween. Of course not! It is only May, NOT October. The ba ba ba ba ba.... booo..... is a crooner's melody belonging to none other than...

Crosby in Road to SingaporeSource: en.wikipedia.org

The date: 1904. The place: Tacoma, WA The event: Birth of Harry Lillis Crosby

Harry Lillis Crosby is better known as "Bing". Interestingly enough about Bing Crosby is his actual birth date. During his lifetime, Bing claimed May 2, 1904 as his birthday. He had no birth certificate. It was only after his death in 1977  that a Tacoma priest disclosed Roman Catholic Church baptismal records revealing the actual birth date of Bing Crosby as May 3, 1903. So, today we will celebrate a day early since for the 73 years of his lifetime, he was wished Happy Birthday on May 2!

Bing Crosby's impressive showbiz career encompassed success with radio and hit recordings, as well as in movies and TV.  It is said Bing went on to sing well over 4,000 songs selling over 300 million records and starred in over 60 movies. His baritone and easy manner were the contributing factors to his unsurpassed solo career. Bing won an Academy Award for Going My Way in1944, won the Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1962, and has been called the number one recording artist of all time.

For 15 years (1934, 1937, 1940, 1943–1954), Crosby was among the top 10 in box-office drawing power, and for five of those years (1944–1948) he topped the world. He sang four Academy Award-winning songs – "Sweet Leilani" (1937), "White Christmas" (1942), "Swinging on a Star" (1944), "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening" (1951) – and won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Going My Way (1944). Source: en.wikipedia.org

Bing is best remembered for his many "Road" movies with costar Bob Hope and the combination of jokes, songs, romance, burlesque and exotic locations. Such classic movies include "The Road to Singapore" (1940), "Going My Way" (1944), "White Christmas" (1954). His most successful tune is undoubtedly the holiday classic "White Christmas" (1942) written by Irving Berlin.

Today let's all croon in his honor: Ba Ba Ba... Booo....

Bing Crosby changed the sound and style of popular music. His songs are a part of the American soundtrack, and to this day, can still be heard on the radio, on TV programs and in films.

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...