Bing Crosby

Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was one of the most popular and influential American singers and actors of the 20th century whose career flourished from 1926 until his death in 1977.

Statistical Analysis

Statistically, Crosby is the most popular entertainer ever. Billboard statistician Joel Whitburn tackled the entire century of record sales, jukebox plays, sheet music sales, Your Hit Parade rankings, and other data in his book "Pop Memories 1890-1954." Whitburn concluded that Crosby had had 322 charting singles (the bandleader Paul Whiteman was second with 220). Crosby's total does not include another 36 charting appearances on various bandleaders' recordings, including 30 with the Paul Whiteman orchestra, and three additional #1 songs.

Related Topics:
Billboard - Joel Whitburn - Your Hit Parade - Paul Whiteman

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If we include his big band performances towards his personal total, Crosby had 39 #1 songs that spent a staggering 176 weeks atop the charts of the time (Elvis Presley spent 80 weeks atop the later charts). Whiteman's 32 #1 hits are second on the all-time list.

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Crosby was also among Hollywood's official "Top Ten Box Office Attractions" list for 12 consecutive years, from 1943-1954, heading the list five times. His radio shows were also hugely popular.

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Career Statistics;

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Number One Hits: 39

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Number of weeks at Number One: 173

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Number of top 30 Hits: 383

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Number of Movies acted in: 60 (5 Academy Awards)

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Consecutive weeks at the number one position: 23 (1944)

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Most Songs in top thirty in one year: 27 (1939)

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Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" is the most popular single ever, the only single to make American pop charts twenty times, every year but one between 1942 and 1962. In 1998, after a long absence, his 1947 version hit the charts in Britain. It has also sold over 37 million copies worldwide.

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