Pop Chronicles Interviews #133 - Bing Crosby

One of 148 recordings in the series: Pop Chronicles Interviews available on this site.
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  1. Preliminary to interview 0:00:40
  2. Discussion of local radio stations and sports broadcasting 0:00:57
  3. Interview begins: Big band era; McKinney's Cotton Pickers, Jean Goldkette (Detroit band); the "crooner" label; Frank Sinatra; meeting Sinatra; movie High Society 0:02:54
  4. Radio shows and High Society with Sinatra; songwriters in the 1940s; Johnny Burke; Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin; Sam Coslow; Irving Berlin 0:03:10
  5. Irving Berlin continued; selection of songs for Decca; Jack Kapp; reminiscing about 1940s studio sessions; time spent in studio for a typical single; recording techniques 0:04:25
  6. Arrangers (John Scott Trotter, Joe (Joseph J.) Lilley); Victor Young; a cappella sessions during AFM strike (1942-43); Kraft Music Hall; writer Bill Morrow; adjusting for timing on the fly 0:03:36
  7. Kraft Music Hall continued; Jimmy Dorsey anecdote; Al Jolson; how musical numbers were done in movies (prerecorded or live) 0:04:17
  8. Lip-synching for pre-recorded songs in movies; question about challenging roles in movies; Crosby responds; favorites of his own movies; topical humor; location trips versus filming in studio; working with Bob Hope; spontaneity on set 0:05:09
  9. Barney Dean, "gag man"; theatrical feuding with Hope; working with Fred Astaire; accounting for success during 1940s; current popular music; The Rhythm Boys; early career; "White Christmas"; other records he likes; looking back on the 1940s 0:07:17
  10. Looking back on the 1940s, continued; popular vocalists at the start of his career; Russ Columbo; Osburn; Ozzy Nelson; influence of records he listened to; seeing Jolson live in show Bombo in Spokane 0:03:17
  11. Al Jolson's influence; vocables and whistling; Crosby's "relaxed" style; one time that he was nervous 0:04:12
  12. Will Rogers; W.C. Fields; Crosby asks interviewers about big bands possibly coming back; anecdote about Wingy Manone and Benny Goodman; movies with Louis Armstrong; remembrance of Armstrong, who had just died; Andrews Sisters 0:04:35
  13. Boswell Sisters; Mills Brothers; longevity of Crosby and Hope's act; his role in movie The Country Girl; avoiding stage fright; successes and failures with The Rhythm Boys 0:06:30
  14. The Rhythm Boys anecdotes; vaudeville; Hollywood after Paul Whiteman; accounting for his success 0:03:12

Description

Recording of John Gilliland interviewing Bing Crosby in Hollywood for the Pop Chronicles radio program series.

Physical Description

1 recording (54 min., 11 sec.)

Creation Information

Gilliland, John July 8, 1971.

Context

This audio recording is part of the collection entitled: John Gilliland's Pop Chronicles and was provided by the UNT Music Library to the UNT Digital Library, a digital repository hosted by the UNT Libraries. It has been viewed 503 times, with 12 in the last month. More information about this recording can be viewed below.

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UNT Music Library

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Description

Recording of John Gilliland interviewing Bing Crosby in Hollywood for the Pop Chronicles radio program series.

Physical Description

1 recording (54 min., 11 sec.)

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  • Accession or Local Control No: John_Gilliland_Collection_133_-_Bing_Crosby
  • Archival Resource Key: ark:/67531/metadc1692055

Collections

This recording is part of the following collection of related materials.

John Gilliland's Pop Chronicles

Conceptualized in 1967 after attending the Monterey International Pop Music Festival, John Gilliland's "The Pop Chronicles" traces the history of popular music from the 1950's through the 1960's. Mr. Gilliland wrote, narrated and produced these 55 hours of broadcasting first airing at KRLA Pasadena, California. in February 1969. The pop music history is told by an interleaving of Mr. Gilliland's narration, music, and comments from the interviews of the people directly involved in the music scene of the day.

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Creation Date

  • July 8, 1971

Added to The UNT Digital Library

  • June 11, 2020, 4:07 p.m.

Description Last Updated

  • June 12, 2020, 3:09 p.m.

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Past 30 days: 12
Total Uses: 503

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Gilliland, John. Pop Chronicles Interviews #133 - Bing Crosby, audio recording, July 8, 1971; (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1692055/: accessed March 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Music Library.

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