Bing Crosby's Most Difficult Moment
Last weekend, I had the privilege of performing the violin solo to "White Christmas" (violin part arranged by Jascha Heifetz, orchestral accompaniment by the wonderful Bryan Kidd) with the American Festival Pops Orchestra, an amazing ensemble of musicians for whom I am deeply proud to serve as their Artistic Director and Conductor.
Before the performance, I offered some history about the song by Irving Berlin, composed in 1942 for the film “Holiday Inn” to be sung by the great Bing Crosby. Only today did I learn the following moving story…
When Bing Crosby's nephew asked him casually, late in Bing's life, about the most difficult moment of his career, he expected some juicy gossip about a difficult Hollywood director or the story of a struggle with a studio. But Bing instead told him it was on a USO tour in December of 1944 in an open-air field in France.
He'd just made 15,000 French and American troops laugh and holler with Dinah Shore and The Andrews Sisters and now had to close the show with a quieter number: "White Christmas." He described having to maintain his composure and vocal control in front of 15,000 crying GIs as the toughest moment of his career.
He never wore his toupee on USO tours - a small thing, but he thought these occasions were above Hollywood artifice - and more importantly insisted that no officers or other top brass got front row seats. Front row seats belonged to enlisted men who were headed for the frontlines.
A few days after this performance of "White Christmas," his audience was sent to The Battle of the Bulge, one of the deadliest battles in the history of humanity.
Merry Christmas to all, and may there be peace on Earth.
Replies
This was very touching. Thank you!
Wonderful remembrances. One wonders how many great moments of musical and personal history we may never have the opportunity to learn about or share.
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December 25, 2024 at 03:03 PM · Thank you for sharing that beautifully moving story