For those who are old enough to remember, Bing Crosby was a famous Irish Americna singer. He sang many traditional Irish tunes in America and was a “ big deal” from the 1930s to the 1970s.
Here is his cover of the old, mysterious Irish tune “ when Irish eyes are smiling” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OFdn5YBrqOg.
Clannad and Sinead O Connor, eat your hearts out!
Was Bing Crosby a good emissary of your great island nation?
8 comments
I didn’t even know he was Irish-American.
Used to abuse one of his sons for being fat.
He was an American of Irish descent, not a dual national Irish and American. He was not any kind of emissary of Ireland. Singing Irish songs does mean he had any actual connection to Ireland.
The duet with Bowie was good
In a general sense, successful and proud Irish Americans did a lot for the greater Irish experience and were role models for people of Irish descent around the world; negated the stereotypes of us being failure, stupid and drunks; and often gave a lot back to Ireland through money and support for Irish causes. Crosby was part of the generation of Irish American catholics who rose to prominence in mainstream American culture, music, cinema, business, politics. They were an important part of Irish identity at the time.
Can’t say much about Crosby’s individual contribution personally, except that he was obviously proud of his Irish background through his songs and films, but I’ve heard that he and other successful Irish Americans were great psychologically for young Irish people to hope for a better future. Cousins in America were a big part of West of Ireland life and sent home packages, invited people over to jobs and sent home money for schools and to pay bills.
The only ‘Irish’ thing that comes to mind for me regarding Bing is ‘Christmas in Killarney,’ from his famous (long pre-Bowie) holiday album, but I seem to be the youngest person aware of it (and I’m late 40s).
Wouldn’t make any connection otherwise.
Is he related to Harry Crosby?
Yes. He brought the idea of lollipops and brut aftershave handy men into nightclub toilets and had the flavoured Johnny’s well before JLS. Also introduced Daniel ODonnell to gambling and the concept of Wednesday morning Margarettas.