Are you dreaming of a White Christmas? In May or June? When it is nearly 100 degrees outside? Probably not! But on this day in 1942 Bing Crosby recorded his most famous hit "White Christmas." Imagine Crosby arriving in a hot studio in Los Angeles with no air condition, in late May and banging out a song that became the most popular Christmas song of all time.
Crosby captured the mood of the holiday and the nation where many were fighting World War II overseas. And, yet the song resonates to this day during the holidays with those special warm, home-town feels!
WHITE CHRISTMAS
At the time he recorded White Christmas, Crosby didn't think much of the Irving Berlin song. Up to that point in 1942 there had not been much of a market for secular Christmas music. However, the commercial success of White Christmas opened up an entirely new genre of holiday songs that continue to be popular to this day. In fact, they are so popular radio stations across the country completely flip their formats to all-Christmas music for an entire month during the holiday season.
The song appeared in numerous films and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards. It topped the Billboard charts for 11 weeks in 1942 and topped the charts again in 1943 and 1944. It is estimated there are 50 million hard copies of the Crosby version. Add all the other artist who covered the song and there are over 100 million copies.
So while you are busy sweating through your clothes take a moment and remember how history was made on this day in 1942 with the recording of White Christmas. We will also attempt to cool you off with Christmas trivia on Craig Shemon and Company on ESPN Southwest Florida.
