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Bob Crosby was the younger brother of renowned singer Bing, and made his own way in the music business as a vocalist and bandleader. Crosby began singing in the early 1930s with the Rhythm Boys, which included vocalist Ray Hendricks and guitarist Bill Pollard, and with Anson Weeks (1931-34) and the Dorsey Brothers (1934-35). He led his first band in 1935 when the former members of Ben Pollack’s band elected him their titular leader. Crosby’s “band-within-the-band”, the Bob-Cats, was a dixieland octet with soloists from the larger orchestra, many from New Orleans. He enjoyed more than 40 hits, which spanned the era covered by this collection, with his orchestra, with the Bob-Cats as well as a solo singer and duettist. This 50-track collection includes numerous career hits, plus selected other noted A&B sides on Decca from this era. It features his No.1 hits In A Gypsy Tearoom, Whispers In The Dark and Day In, Day Out, and his other Top 3 hits Over The Rainbow, Lilacs In The Rain, With The Wind And The Rain In Your Hair and Down Argentina Way. Also included are famous jazz-focused pieces like South Rampart Street Parade, Big Noise From Winnetka, March Of The Bob Cats and his theme tune Summertime along with hits with other classics from the era like Two Sleepy People, Let It Snow!, Goody Goody, A Foggy Day and Play A Simple Melody. There are performances also by his featured vocalists Frank Tennille, Kay Weber, Eddie Miller, Marian Mann, Nappy Lamare, Helen Ward, Teddy Grace and Marion Morgan, as well as vocal duets with Patty Andrews and Georgia Gibbs. As a performer, Crosby had tremendous charisma and wit combined with a laid-back persona. This an entertaining selection of his most popular recordings.
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