Bob Crosby
Bob Crosby (
1913 -
1993) was an
American bandleader and
singer. He was the youngest of the six children of Harry and Kate Crosby and the brother of
Bing Crosby. He started singing with
Anson Weeks (1931-4) and the Dorsey Brothers (1934-5). He led his first band in
1935, when the former members of
Ben Pollack's band elected him as titular leader. His most famous band was the
Bobcats, who were a
Dixieland jazz group from within the Bob Crosby Orchestra. Both the Bob Crosby Orchestra (big band) and the "Bobcats" small-group specialized in "dixieland" jazz, presaging the traditional jazz "revival" of the 1940's. The Bob Crosby Orchestra and Bobcats included (at various times)
Yank Lawson,
Billy Butterfield,
Muggsy Spanier,
Matty Matlock,
Irving Fazola,
Ward Silloway, Warren Smith,
Eddie Miller,
Joe Sullivan,
Bob Zurke,
Jess Stacy,
Nappy Lamare,
Bob Haggart and
Ray Bauduc. His (or rather, the band's) hits included "Summertime" (theme song), "In A Little Gypsy Tea Room," "Whispers In The Dark," "South Rampart Street Parade," "March Of The Bobcats," "Day In, Day Out," "You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby," "Dolores" and "New San Antonio Rose" (last three with Bing Crosby), among others. There was also the remarkable bass and drums duet between Haggart and Bauduc, 'Big Noise From Winnetka', that became a hit in 1938-39.
During
World War II, Bob spent 18 months in the
Marines touring with bands in the
Pacific. Bob had his own radio show,
Club 15, from
1946 through
1952, and a half-hour daytime show,
The Bob Crosby Show from
1953 through
1957, both on
CBS. In 1952 Bob joined
Jack Benny's and remained as the shows bandleader until Benny retired the show in 1955 after 23 years. Crosby replaced
Phil Harris, Benny's bandleader of more than 15 years. In an unusual move, Bob became leader of the same group of musicians who had played under Harris. It is unclear in Benny literature, and in recorded interviews with Harris, why Harris was replaced by Crosby. Prior to joining Benny on the radio, Crosby, who was based on the East Coast, would often play with Benny during Benny's live New York appearances. Crosby also appeared on Benny's short lived TV show which ran for about 3 years in the early 50's.
As a performer, Crosby had tremendous charisma and wit combined with a "laid back" persona. He also had a beautiful "silky" baritone singing voice strongly reminiscent of his brother Bing.
Such was the enduring popularity of the Bob Crosby Orchestra and the Bob Cats, that there were frequent re-unions throughout the 1950's and '60's. Bob Haggart and Yank Lawson also organised a band that kept the spirit alive, combining dixieland and swing and a roster of top soloists: from the late 1960's until the mid-seventies it was called "The World's Greatest Jazzband", but neither leader was happy with the name and they eventually reverted to "The Lawson Haggart Jazzband": but, whatever the name, the Lawson - Haggart group was consistent in keeping the Bob Crosby tradition alive.
Bob Crosby died in
1993 from complications from
cancer.
