… of Pete Seeger. The writer of “Turn, Turn, Turn” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” is 87. (Of course, the lyrics to “Turn, Turn, Turn” are from Ecclesiastes.)
… of James Brown. The Godfather of Soul is 73.
… of Frankie Valli, well-seasoned at 72.
… of Greg Gumbel. He’s 60. (Brother Bryant is 57.)
… and of Dulé Hill. That’s Charlie on West Wing. He’s 31.
And Harry Lillis Crosby was born on this date in 1903. Known as “Bing” from a childhood nickname, he was:
[W]ithout doubt, the most popular and influential media star of the first half of the 20th century. The undisputed best-selling artist until well into the rock era (with over half a billion records in circulation), the most popular radio star of all time, and the biggest box-office draw of the 1940s, Crosby dominated the entertainment world from the Depression until the mid-’50s, and proved just as influential as he was popular. Unlike the many vocal artists before him, Crosby grew up with radio, and his intimate bedside manner was a style perfectly suited to emphasize the strengths of a medium transmitted directly into the home. He was also helped by the emerging microphone technology: scientists had perfected the electrically amplified recording process scant months before Crosby debuted on record, and in contrast to earlier vocalists, who were forced to strain their voices into the upper register to make an impression on mechanically recorded tracks, Crosby’s warm, manly baritone crooned contentedly without a thought of excess. …
John Bush for the All Music Guide