As we lead up to the holidays, it is only right that we look at the influence that Christmas music has had over the years, specifically Bing Crosby. There is no doubt that Der Bingle would have sold a lot of Christmas albums over the years, but if it was not for Irving Berlin’s most popular song White Christmas, Bing would never have hit the highs that he did with his seasonal anthems. To this day, White Christmas as sung by Bing Crosby is still the highest selling single of all time, at least according to the Guinness Book of World Records. It premiered on the radio first, was recorded for the movie Holiday Inn which also starred Fred Astaire and was featured again in the eponymously named film White Christmas. Crosby’s album Merry Christmas, which contained the song among others, has been in print for nearly seventy years and many other songs, of which are recorded on the album, can be heard throughout the season. Another song, covered by many much like White Christmas, is Mele Kalikimaka, the Hawaiian Christmas Song, and though widely known as well, Bing’s is still the better version and was featured quite prominently in the film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. If there is one man that will always be associated with the wintery holiday that is Christmas more than any others, it is Bing Crosby and chances are, he always will be.

White Christmas

Mele Kalikimaka

Christmas in Killarney

Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby Christmas Special 1957

Bing Crosby, David Bowie – The Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth

Merry Christmas

Bing Crosby’s Merrie Olde Christmas