Wednesday, December 12

Bing Crosby and David Bowie


This evening my husband bought the CD Now That's What I Call Xmas. It's a compilation of Christmas songs that are popular in Britain. It includes one of our long time favorites Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth.

One of the more unusual moments in pop music history took place Sept. 11, 1977, when the leading American singer of the first half of the Twentieth Century met and performed with one of the more innovative musicians of the last half of the Century. Bing Crosby was in London on a concert tour and to tape his yearly TV Christmas special. It was Bing's idea that he should have a young star as a guest on his TV show. Someone suggested David Bowie.

The idea was that he and Bowie would perform "The Little Drummer Boy" as a duet. Bowie felt the song did not showcase his voice very well, so the writers added "Peace on Earth," which suited Bowie's voice quite well. The two met for the first time on the morning of the taping, rehearsed for an hour and finished their duet in only three takes.

Bing died a month later. The public did not see their performance until after his death.

10 comments:

Suzy said...

Wow, I did not know that! I'll have to watch it at home where I have volume.

cmrpaul said...

Thanks for the background info. Sad but interesting too. I love this song. And aside from the rappers toward the end, Now That's What I Call Xmas 3 is also very good.

Anna Spiro said...

Lovely Ronda - thanks for sharing this! You know how much I love my Christmas carols as you do!!
XO
Anna

ALL THE BEST said...

Do watch it Suzy...I just love their voices together.

ALL THE BEST said...

You are so welcome...

Genuine Lustre said...

I love that duet too. I grew up with Bing on the tv and the stereo - it's not Christmas without him.

ALL THE BEST said...

Polly I agree!!

Easy and Elegant Life said...

You said it Polly. And as David Bowie said to Moby during a televised request concert a few years ago: "Everything you do is glamourous..." Could have applied to himself as well.

This is one of my favourites. Thanks for the flashback.

Katie said...

Wow, thanks so much! Bing is one of my favorite singers EVER.

ALL THE BEST said...

Well said Easy and Elegant Life!!