Lindsay Crosby
Dixie Lee
Phillip Crosby (brother)
Dennis Crosby (brother)
Harry Crosby III (half-brother)
Mary Crosby (half-sister)
Nathaniel Crosby (half-brother)
Larry Crosby (uncle)
Bob Crosby (uncle)
Chris Crosby (cousin)
Denise Crosby (niece)
Lindsay Harry Crosby (January 5, 1938 – December 11, 1989) was an American actor and singer. He was the youngest of four sons from Bing Crosby's first marriage to Dixie Lee (his older brothers being Gary and twins Phillip and Dennis). Lindsay began his career singing alongside his three brothers and his father. He was remembered by his friends for having a laid-back, clever wit like his father.
Early life
Lindsay Crosby was born in Los Angeles, California and named after his father's closest friend and horse racing partner, Lindsay Howard.
He was educated at Loyola High School, Los Angeles and after graduating in 1956 he enrolled at Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts but left after only one semester. He then joined the Army and after his discharge in February 1959, he formed a vocal group with his brothers. When he was 21 in 1959, Lindsay inherited $200,000 (equivalent to $2,090,000 in 2023) from his late mother's trust.[2]
Singing career
Lindsay had sung with his brothers on their father's radio shows and they participated in a record with Bing in 1950 called "A Crosby Christmas" which charted at number 22 in the Billboard lists in December 1950. The following year, the thirteen year old Lindsay made two solo records for Decca accompanied by John Scott Trotter and his Orchestra – "That's What I Want for Christmas" (Decca 27812) and "Dear Mister Santa Claus" (Decca).[3]
In 1955 and 1956, he made many appearances on his father's radio show. On October 13, 1957, he had a guest spot on a major TV special called The Edsel Show singing "In the Middle of an Island". Whilst still in the Army, he signed a record contract with RCA-Victor on February 25, 1958, and he made a number of records for them.[4]
He performed with his brothers Gary, Dennis, and Phillip Crosby as the Crosby Boys during the late 1950s and early 60s in nightclubs and on television. They were featured on the cover of Life on September 15, 1958. An appearance on The Phil Silvers Show on November 14, 1958, followed, and they made their debut as a singing group at Tucson, Arizona in 1959. Moving on to the Chez Paree, Chicago, in June 1959, they earned a good review from Variety which said:
CROSBY BROS. Chez Paree, Chicago. Songs 58 Mins. Bing Crosby's four sons are launched on the cabaret scene in high style. The frères – Gary, Phillip, Dennis and Lindsay – have a superlative act that is likely to abash those skeptics who surmised the boys would trade merely on the lustrous family name.[5]
They continued to perform successfully at locations such as the Sahara in Las Vegas and the El Morocco nightclub in Montreal. However, after one of their performances at El Morocco in December 1959, the boys fought among themselves and Gary Crosby left the group.[6]
Phillip, Dennis, and Lindsay continued without Gary and they were given useful exposure on the Bing Crosby Show seen on ABC-TV on February 29, 1960. Bing took the place of Gary to sing "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" with his sons, who also sang two other songs themselves. They made their first LP for their father's company, Project Records, in April 1960, which was released by MGM Records and was well received.
The Crosby Brothers – Dennis – Philip – Lindsay Crosby (MGM); "Dinah" (Mills*), a hip version of the oldie, makes a promising disk bow for this trio of Bing Crosby offspring. "The Green Grass Grows All Around" (Marfran*) is a bright ensemble of this folk tune.[7]
To promote the album, the brothers appeared on the I've Got a Secret show and taught the panel how to lip-sync to "I Can't Give You Anything but Love."[8]
Starting at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas and continuing for the next two years, the three men enjoyed useful success as The Crosby Brothers at venues such as the Chi Chi in Palm Springs, The Venetian room at the Fairmont in San Francisco, and the Latin Quarter in New York.[9] During their stay at the Latin Quarter, they appeared on the What's My Line? TV show on May 14, 1961.[10]
On television, the Crosby Brothers starred on several high-profile shows such as Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall (twice), The Ed Sullivan Show (four times) and of course the Bing Crosby Show (twice).
The Crosby Brothers act folded, however, when Lindsay Crosby had a breakdown in July 1962 in Juarez, Mexico. Earlier in the year, Lindsay's wife, Barbara (who was eight months pregnant), attempted suicide and was rushed unconscious into St. Joseph Hospital, Burbank. She was released from the hospital on February 20 but a few days later she gave birth prematurely to a one and one-half pound baby boy who died one hour after delivery. Lindsay, who was in Miami, suffered feelings of guilt which subsequently necessitated lengthy psychological treatment including being hospitalized for some time.[2] He and Frederickson divorced shortly afterwards.[11]
In the years after his nervous breakdown he went through two divorces and was arrested several times for drunk driving and battery. He never held a steady job, and his own attempts at an entertainment career, including appearances in such low-budget films[12] as "The Glory Stompers" and "Scream Free!" were not successful.
Death
Bing Crosby said in a 1959 interview, "I guess I didn't do very well bringing my boys up. I think I failed them by giving them too much work and discipline, too much money, and too little time and attention. But I did my best and so did their mother."[13] Lindsay Crosby responded by saying
"I don't know how our dad could feel he's failed us as a father. Reading that he had said that in an interview really shook me up. I only hope someday that I can give my son a tenth of what Dad has given us. And that I can rate any part of the admiration we've always felt for him. That's why it hurt so much to see him knocking himself in print. Taking himself apart and saying he punished us too much, that he was too strict with us, that he made us work too hard, that he spent too little time with us. That really shook me up."[2]
Heavy drinking and emotional problems took their toll. Crosby died on December 11, 1989, from a self-inflicted rifle shot to the head. He was 51. A family spokeswoman said Crosby shot himself dead in a Las Virgenes apartment.[14] Another brother, Dennis, died by suicide two years later.[15]
Family
- Brother of Gary and twins Phillip and Dennis Crosby
- Half-sibling of Harry Crosby, Nathaniel Crosby and Mary Crosby
- Nephew of Larry Crosby and bandleader Bob Crosby
- Cousin of Chris Crosby (singer)
- Uncle of Denise Crosby
Discography
Albums
- A Crosby Christmas (EP) – with Dennis Crosby, Phillip Crosby, Gary Crosby and Bing Crosby (1950)
- The Crosby Brothers – Dennis – Philip – Lindsay Crosby (1960)
- Presenting the Crosby Brothers (MGM-C-846) (2000)
Singles
- "That's What I Want for Christmas" (1951)
- "Dear Mister Santa Claus" (1951)
- "Friendship Ring" (1958)
- "Why-Oh-You (Y.O.U.)" (1958)
- "Ding Ding" (1958)
- "One Chocolate Soda with Two Straws" (1958)
- "Christmas Won't Be the Same" (1965)
- "Old Friends of Mine" (1965)
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1945 | Out of This World | Himself | |
1945 | Duffy's Tavern | ||
1962 | Sergeants 3 | Pvt. Wills | |
1967 | The Glory Stompers | Monk | |
1969 | Scream Free! | Narcotics officer | |
1970 | The Girls from Thunder Strip | ||
1970 | Bigfoot | Wheels | |
1971 | Outlaw Riders | Lee | |
1972 | The Mechanic | Policeman | |
1973 | Santee | Horn | |
1975 | Murph the Surf | S.A. Thomas | |
1987 | Code Name Zebra | Police Sergeant | (final film role) |
References
- ^ "Lindsay Crosby, 51, A Son of Bing, Dead". The New York Times. December 13, 1989. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ a b c "BING magazine". BING magazine. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- ^ "Lindsay Crosby : That's What I Want For Christmas". 45cat.com. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
- ^ "Lindsay Crosby – Discography". 45cat.com. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- ^ "Variety". July 1, 1959.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ "TIME". December 14, 1959.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ "Variety". June 8, 1960.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ "YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
- ^ "Craig's Big Bands and Big Names.com". Bigbandsandbignames.com. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ "YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
- ^ Clemens, Samuel (July 2023). "Barbara Frederick". Classic Images. pp. 26–29.
- ^ "Internet Movie Database". imdb.com. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- ^ Hyams, Joe (March 30, 1959). "Associated Press". Associated Press.
- ^ DUNN, ASHLEY (December 13, 1989). "Lindsay Crosby Suicide Laid to End of Inheritance Income". Retrieved September 4, 2017 – via LA Times.
- ^ "Bing Crosby's Son, Dennis, an Apparent Suicide at 56". The Washington Post. Washington, DC. May 8, 1991.
External links
- Lindsay Crosby at Apacheland Movie Ranch
- Lindsay Crosby at IMDb
- Lindsay Crosby at Find a Grave
- Lindsay Crosby Suicide Laid to End of Inheritance Income, latimes.com; accessed January 27, 2016.
- v
- t
- e
- Music of Hawaii (1939)
- Victor Herbert Melodies, Vol. One (1939)
- Patriotic Songs for Children (1939)
- Cowboy Songs (Bing Crosby's first solo album) (1939)
- Victor Herbert Melodies, Vol. Two (1939)
- George Gershwin Songs, Vol. One (1939)
- Ballad for Americans (Bing Crosby's first solo studio album)(1940)
- Favorite Hawaiian Songs (1940)
- Christmas Music (1940)
- Star Dust (1940)
- Hawaii Calls (1941)
- Small Fry (1941)
- Crosbyana (1941)
- Under Western Skies (1941)
- Song Hits from Holiday Inn (w/ Fred Astaire) (1942)
- Merry Christmas (1945)
- Selections from Going My Way (1945)
- Selections from The Bells of St. Mary's (1946)
- Don't Fence Me In (w/ The Andrews Sisters) (1946)
- The Happy Prince (1946)
- Selections from Road to Utopia (1946)
- Bing Crosby – Stephen Foster (1946)
- What We So Proudly Hail (1946)
- Favorite Hawaiian Songs, Vol. One (1946)
- Favorite Hawaiian Songs, Vol. Two (1946)
- Blue Skies (w/ Fred Astaire and Irving Berlin) (1946)
- Bing Crosby – Jerome Kern (1946)
- St. Patrick's Day (1947)
- Bing Crosby – Victor Herbert (1947)
- Cowboy Songs, Vol. One (1947)
- Selections from Welcome Stranger (1947)
- Our Common Heritage (1947)
- El Bingo (1947)
- The Small One (1947)
- The Man Without a Country (1947)
- Drifting and Dreaming (1947)
- Blue of the Night (1948)
- Selections from Showboat (1948)
- The Emperor Waltz (1948)
- St. Valentine's Day (1948)
- Bing Crosby Sings with Al Jolson, Bob Hope, Dick Haymes and the Andrews Sisters (1948)
- Selections from Road to Rio (1948)
- Bing Crosby Sings with Judy Garland, Mary Martin, Johnny Mercer (1948)
- Bing Crosby Sings with Lionel Hampton, Eddie Heywood, Louis Jordan (1948)
- Bing Crosby Sings the Song Hits from Broadway Shows (1948)
- Cowboy Songs, Vol. Two (1948)
- Auld Lang Syne (1948)
- Bing Crosby Sings Cole Porter Songs (1949)
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1949)
- Bing Crosby Sings Songs by George Gershwin (1949)
- South Pacific (1949)
- Christmas Greetings (1949)
- Ichabod – The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1949)
- Top o' the Morning / Emperor Waltz (1950)
- Songs from Mr. Music (w/ Dorothy Kirsten and The Andrews Sisters) (1950)
- Go West Young Man (w/ The Andrews Sisters) (1950)
- Collectors' Classics, Vols. 1–8 (1951)
- Way Back Home (1951)
- Bing Crosby Sings the Song Hits from... (1951)
- Bing and the Dixieland Bands (1951)
- Yours Is My Heart Alone (1951)
- Country Style (1951)
- Beloved Hymns (1951)
- Bing and Connee (w/ Connee Boswell) (1952)
- When Irish Eyes Are Smiling (1952)
- Themes and Songs from The Quiet Man (w/ Victor Young) (1952)
- Selections from the Paramount Picture "Just for You" (w/ Jane Wyman and The Andrews Sisters) (1952)
- Road to Bali (w/ Bob Hope and Peggy Lee) (1952)
- Le Bing: Song Hits of Paris (1953)
- Some Fine Old Chestnuts (1954)
- Bing Sings the Hits (1954)
- Selections from White Christmas (w/ Peggy Lee and Danny Kaye) (1954)
- Bing: A Musical Autobiography (1954)
- The Country Girl / Little Boy Lost (1955)
- Merry Christmas (later version of 1945 78rpm album) (1955)
- Shillelaghs and Shamrocks (1956)
- Home on the Range (1956)
- Blue Hawaii (1956)
- High Tor (w/ Julie Andrews and Everett Sloane) (1956)
- A Christmas Sing with Bing Around the World (1956)
- Anything Goes (w/ Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor and Zizi Jeanmaire) (1956)
- High Society (w/ Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly, and Louis Armstrong) (1956)
- Songs I Wish I Had Sung the First Time Around (1956)
- Bing Sings Whilst Bregman Swings (1956)
- Bing with a Beat (1957)
- A Christmas Story (1957)
- Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (1957)
- New Tricks (1957)
- The Bible Story of Christmas (1957)
- Never Be Afraid (1958)
- Jack B. Nimble – A Mother Goose Fantasy (1958)
- Fancy Meeting You Here ( w/ Rosemary Clooney) (1958)
- Around the World with Bing! (1958)
- Bing in Paris (1958)
- That Christmas Feeling (1958)
- In a Little Spanish Town (1958)
- Bing’s Buddies and Beaus (1959)
- Say One for Me (w/ Debbie Reynolds and Robert Wagner) (1959)
- How the West Was Won (w/ Rosemary Clooney) (1960)
- Join Bing and Sing Along (1960)
- Bing & Satchmo (w/ Louis Armstrong) (1960)
- Songs of Christmas (1960)
- 101 Gang Songs (1961)
- El Señor Bing (1961)
- My Golden Favorites (1961)
- The Road to Hong Kong (1962)
- Bing's Hollywood (set of 15 albums) (1962)
- On the Happy Side (1962)
- I Wish You a Merry Christmas (1962)
- Holiday in Europe (1962)
- Reprise Musical Repertory Theatre (1963)
- Return to Paradise Islands (1964)
- America, I Hear You Singing (w/ Frank Sinatra and Fred Waring) (1964)
- Robin and the 7 Hoods (w/ Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.) (1964)
- 12 Songs of Christmas (w/ Frank Sinatra and Fred Waring) (1964)
- Bing Crosby Sings the Great Country Hits (1965)
- That Travelin' Two-Beat (w/ Rosemary Clooney) (1965)
- The Summit (w/ Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.) (1966)
- Bing Crosby's Treasury – The Songs I Love (1966)
- Bing Crosby and The Columbus Boychoir Sing Family Christmas Favorites (w/ The Columbus Boychoir) (1967)
- Thoroughly Modern Bing (1968)
- Bing Crosby's Treasury - The Songs I Love (1968 version) (1968)
- Hey Jude/Hey Bing! (1969)
- Goldilocks (1970)
- A Time to Be Jolly (1971)
- Bing 'n' Basie (w/ Count Basie) (1972)
- Rhythm on the Range (1972)
- I’ll Sing You a Song of the Islands (1972)
- A Southern Memoir (1975)
- That's What Life Is All About (1975)
- A Couple of Song and Dance Men (w/ Fred Astaire) (1975)
- Tom Sawyer (1976)
- At My Time of Life (1976)
- Bing Crosby Live at the London Palladium (1976)
- Feels Good, Feels Right (1976)
- Beautiful Memories (1977)
- Bingo Viejo (1977)
- Seasons (Bing Crosby's last studio album released during his lifetime) (1977)
- A Little Bit of Irish (posthumous edition, recorded in 1966) (1993)
- Bing Crosby: The Voice of Christmas (1998)
- On the Sentimental Side (posthumous edition, recorded in 1962; Bing Crosby's latest studio album) (2010)
- Dixie Lee (first wife)
- Gary Crosby (son)
- Dennis Crosby (son)
- Phillip Crosby (son)
- Lindsay Crosby (son)
- Kathryn Crosby (second wife)
- Harry Crosby (son)
- Mary Crosby (daughter)
- Nathaniel Crosby (son)
- Denise Crosby (granddaughter)
- Larry Crosby (brother)
- Bob Crosby (brother)
- Category