Crosby

Crosby, Bing, 1903-77, American singer and film actor, b. Tacoma, Wash., as Harry Lillis Crosby. He sang with dance bands from 1925 to 1930 and in 1931 began work in radio and films. Crosby gained enormous popularity for his "crooning" style and was an important influence on the development of American popular singing. In 1944 he won an Academy Award for his performance in Going My Way. Crosby's other notable films include numerous "Road" movies costarring Bob Hope, The Country Girl (1955), High Society (1956), and Stagecoach (1966).

Crosby, town (1991 pop. 54,116), Sefton metropolitan district, NW England, on Liverpool Bay. Formed in 1937 from the urban districts of Great Crosby and Waterloo-with-Seaforth, Crosby is primarily residential. The town's history dates back more than 1,000 years. The Merchant Taylor's School for boys was founded in 1620.

orig. Harry Lillis Crosby

(born May 3, 1903, Tacoma, Wash., U.S.—died Oct. 14, 1977, near Madrid, Spain) U.S. singer and actor. Crosby began to sing and play drums while studying law in Spokane, Wash. As a singer with the Paul Whiteman orchestra in 1927, he exhibited a mellow “crooning” style and casual stage manner that proved highly popular. He appeared in the early sound film King of Jazz (1931), and he later had his own radio program. By the late 1930s his records had sold millions of copies. His recordings of “White Christmas” and “Silent Night” were among the most popular songs of the 20th century. In the 1940s he starred in a popular radio variety show. His film career included the seven Road comedies with Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour, beginning with The Road to Singapore (1940); Going My Way (1944, Academy Award); The Bells of St. Mary's (1945); and White Christmas (1954). More than 300 million of his records have been sold, a total surpassed only by Elvis Presley among solo artists.

Learn more about Crosby, Bing with a free trial on Britannica.com.

orig. Harry Lillis Crosby

(born May 3, 1903, Tacoma, Wash., U.S.—died Oct. 14, 1977, near Madrid, Spain) U.S. singer and actor. Crosby began to sing and play drums while studying law in Spokane, Wash. As a singer with the Paul Whiteman orchestra in 1927, he exhibited a mellow “crooning” style and casual stage manner that proved highly popular. He appeared in the early sound film King of Jazz (1931), and he later had his own radio program. By the late 1930s his records had sold millions of copies. His recordings of “White Christmas” and “Silent Night” were among the most popular songs of the 20th century. In the 1940s he starred in a popular radio variety show. His film career included the seven Road comedies with Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour, beginning with The Road to Singapore (1940); Going My Way (1944, Academy Award); The Bells of St. Mary's (1945); and White Christmas (1954). More than 300 million of his records have been sold, a total surpassed only by Elvis Presley among solo artists.

Learn more about Crosby, Bing with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Crosby is a city in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,299 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Brainerd Micropolitan Statistical Area. Crosby is adjacent to its twin city of Ironton. It is one of the cities in the Cuyuna Range.

In the 1932 local elections, the voters of Crosby elected Karl Emil Nygard as President of the Village Council and thus became the first city in the United States to have a Communist mayor.

Crosby was the location of the worst mining disaster in Minnesota, the Milford Mine disaster. On February 5, 1924, a new tunnel was blasted too close to nearby Foley Lake, and water rushed in, killing 41 miners.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.5 km²), of which, 3.0 square miles (7.9 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (16.94%) is water. Minnesota Highway 6 and Minnesota Highway 210 are two of the main routes in the community.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,299 people, 989 households, and 554 families residing in the city. The population density was 755.0 people per square mile (292.0/km²). There were 1,081 housing units at an average density of 355.0/sq mi (137.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.69% White, 0.04% African American, 0.91% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.

There were 989 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.3% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.9% were non-families. 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 25.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,053, and the median income for a family was $31,629. Males had a median income of $28,879 versus $20,842 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,465. About 15.6% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.

Radio stations

FM radio

• 104.3 KLKS Timeless music, CNN and local news, Great Lakes Weather Service Meteorologists

References