ABSTRACT
American popular singer, born Harry Lillis Crosby in Tacoma, Washington. Crosby was a master of the crooning style, and one of the most successful recording artists of all time-with record sales possibly as high as 400 million copies. After nightclub engagements in California, signing and drumming to the piano of Al Rinker, he and Rinker were signed in 1926 by Paul Whiteman and performed with his orchestra on a Midwest tour. He was heard on disc for the first time in “I’ve Got the Girl” (Columbia 824-D; 18 Oct 1926), singing with Rinker, not with Whiteman, but with Don Clark and his orchestra. (Crosby’s name was not on the label, nor on any label until 1929.) Listeners who find Crosby’s voice unrecognizable on this disc are advised to play it back at 70 rpm instead of 78 rpm (Ault). He and Rinker were also the vocalists on “Wistful and Blue” (Victor 20418; 22 Dec 1926), with Whiteman. “Muddy Water” was his first solo vocal, also with Whiteman (Victor 20508; 7 Mar 1927).
