| NAME | MESSAGE |
| Arne |
posted 05/05/03 05:29 PM Central Time (US)  contact the author directly
Hi, everybody... I didn't really pay much attention to the Bob Thomas AP feature on Bing till I read in my local paper, accompanied by a "chronology" of Bing's life. While seemingly positive, The article really is just a perpetuation of the same old cliches, etc., accompanied by some really lazy, sloppy "research". I sent the following letter to the editor of my local paper. I hope the AP sees it..... Here goes: Dear Star-Trib, My initial pleasure at seeing the nearly full-page of coverage given to Bing Crosby on his 100th birthday dimmed considerably as I read the material. It wasn't just the inexcusably error-strewn "chronology" at the top of the page (see corrections below) that disappointed, but the text of the article itself, which numbingly intoned the cliched half-truths of recent years, slanting, distorting, and ultimately obscurring the true meaning of Crosby's contribution to 20th century culture. Yes, Bing Crosby was tough on his kids. He admitted as much in several interviews, dating from the late 1950s on, in which he stated that he regretted being too tough a disciplinarian. But oldest son Gary Crosby's confused, misunderstood, hazy little memoir of 1983 has been refuted not only by Bing's friends and co-workers in all the years since, but also by Bing's surviving children, most vehemently brother Philip, and including Gary's own son Steven. A more accurate portrayal of Crosby can be found in Gary Giddins' multi-award-winning, best-selling biography of 2001: "Bing Crosby - Pocketful Of Dreams" which places Crosby at the forefront of 20th century music and popular culture, and describes the tremendous regard and affection in which he was held by numerous co-workers and friends during his life. Strange that the AP's Bob Thomas would bring up the failed Gary Crosby tome of 20 years ago, while neglecting to even mention the far more authoratative (and successful) Giddins book, the result of 10 years research, including nine hours worth of interviews with Gary Crosby himself! The comments regarding the "muted" tributes as compared to Hope's tributes are also gratuitous, as far as I can see: Of course Hope is getting more play; he's celebrating a birthday! The country is celebrating with him in festivities that, by their very nature, are bound to be on an entirely different scale than those devoted to a figure who's been dead for a quarter-century. The out-of-context comments from Charles Champlin regarding Bing's "aloof and austere" personal demeanor are of no relevance to a discussion of a man who was obviously charismatic enough to radiate enough warmth, personality, and charm to keep him at the very apex of the world's mass-media culture for over a quarter century. A better tribute would have been one offering a quote from Gary Giddins, Nat Hentoff, Will Friedwald, Tom Shales, or any one of a number of other writers and critics, who have gone on record acknowledging the unarguable fact that Bing Crosby was the most influential popular performer of the first half of the 20th century. CORRECTIONS TO THE AP CHRONOLOGY: 1903: ("born May 2") Wrong, Bing was born May 3rd, 1903, according to baptismal records and all reliable published reseach of the past 20 years. 1920: ("left law studies for a career....") Wrong, He didn't leave Spokane til 1925. 1926: ("adopts the name Bing...") Wrong, Harry Crosby was known as "Bing" from the time he was eight years old! 1931: ("Paramount contract begins with "Reaching for the Moon...") Wrong, his Paramount contract began in 1932 with "The Big Broadcast" 1940: ("first of six Road movies...") Wrong, Hope _amp; Crosby made SEVEN "Road" movies. 1941: ("Sings White Christmas in Holiday Inn"..) Wrong, "Holiday Inn" and "White Christmas" were introduced in 1942. 1977: ("two sons and a daughter survive..") Wrong, Bing is survived by THREE sons and a daughter. Yours Truly, Arne Fogel performer, historian, host of "BING _amp; CO." (KLBB-AM 1400) co-host of "SINGERS _amp; STANDARDS" (KBEM JAZZ 88 - FM) www.arnefogel.com -- end of letter. I feel better now! |
| Jon O. |
posted 05/05/03 06:21 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
Very well done Arne. I didn't didn't pay much attention to that piece either at first. But when it showed up in one of my local papers, I was so excited to see an article about Bing that I posted what reads like a positive review a couple of days ago on this board. After reading the piece more thoroughly, I immediately wished I hadn't left that post. |
| Carmela |
posted 05/05/03 06:45 PM Central Time (US)  no email address given
Boy! Some people don't bother to do research on the people and topics they write about! Good Job Arne with your response! I feel like my Easter company is back after reading your topic. All they did was bash Bing. |
| Wayne Martin, Club Crosby |
posted 05/05/03 07:13 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
Hi, Arne, et al: To my surprise, the Associated Press article appeared in this morning's St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Yes, there are mistakes in the article, but at least they published something about Bing. I wasn't sure they even knew who Bing was (and is). As a whole, I think the media did pretty well on the coverage. By the way, the issue of Goldmine that I mentioned the other day will be dated May 16. Try music stores, Borders, Barnes and Noble, etc. Best to all, and have a good time in Spokane! Wayne |
| Steven Lewis |
posted 05/05/03 08:40 PM Central Time (US) no email address given
Perhaps Bob Thomas' brain has gone into retirement and he is functioning on autopilot. 'Twas pretty sloppy journalism, especially for someone who once wrote a book about Bing. The "aloof and austere" comments reveal only how one can spin a set of facts in about any direction. Next to Hope, just about anyone would seem "aloof." And how do you call a guy who spent a large chunk of his life golfing, hunting, fishing and betting on horses "austere"? Billy Graham and austere may go together, but not with Bing! |
| Lee |
posted 05/06/03 08:47 AM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
It's disappointing that the man who once wrote such a complementary book on Bing now has stooped to the Nat. Enquirer level of slash and burn your subject. Seems the author has been in a cave since reading Gary's false book. Maybe he's just too old now to care what he's writing. I have 2 copies of "One _amp; Only Bing" now I'm tempted to never darken their pages again. But Arne, I do believe one of his "facts" was right, "White Christmas" was performed on a radio show in 1941. The exact date and show I'd have to look up, but last Christmas I looked this one up just to see when was the first time Bing sang it, and I'm pretty sure it was '41 on a radio program. But the rest of his so-called facts are just too sloppy to beleive that someone who supposedly WAS an expert could be so wrong now. Even the most basic of facts he got wrong. What are ya gonna do? |
| Lars |
posted 05/06/03 09:03 AM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
Lee, I vaguely remember that Steven had the 1941 radio version posted not that long ago (last x-mas?). Unfortunately it seems that my memory isn't working as good as it used to so I'm not entirely sure. But as I recall it Steven presented it as the earliest "surviving" performance by Bing of said song. |
| Wayne Martin, Club Crosby |
posted 05/06/03 09:03 AM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
Hi: I am wondering if Bob Thomas really had anything to do with the chronology published with his AP article. Could it have been written by some hack who didn't know what he was talking about? I'm inclined to think so. Wayne |
| Arne |
posted 05/06/03 12:58 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
Lee, Good for you, sharp-eyes! Actually, I was aware of the 1941 broadcast of "White Christmas", and deliberated a bit as to whether or not I should add it to the "wrong" list when I sent the letter in. I decided to do so for the simple reason that the "Chronology" ties the "White Crhistmas" debut in with the PREMIER OF HOLIDAY INN.... which, clearly, was in 1942. Had "Holiday Inn" not been mentioned in the "chrono" entry, I would have let that one go. |