Archiefit wrote:

You know I don't even think of the anniversary of the death.   To me it seems like Bing is still around.  When you hear him every single day (maybe an exception here and there but hardly ever) and you hear his singing all his great songs, it seems he's right there singing.   Weird, I guess, but for years I listened to old time radio and most of the people there were dead at the time also but they seemed alive to me.  So I guess I just adjusted to listening to people who have "moved on" and don't think twice about it   But I know a lot of people the first thing out of their mouth is "he's dead" no matter who it is I'm listening too (most everybody is dead now on my musical playlist) but they're not dead to me in my world they're all alive and kickin'.   So the day of a death just doesn't occur to me to think about.   I do know Bing's birthday May 3rd 1903, I believe is the current version, and that anniversary does occur to me when it happens. 

But I've been listening to dead people for decades now so "they're dead" doesn't even enter my thoughts.   I also love classic TV shows of the '50's the '60's and early '70 and most them are dead now too.   But I still enjoy every one of their shows.  But I do sometimes think "boy everybody's dead in this show" but then I wipe it from my brain.   On my podcast I even "talk" to Bing and other singers who are now singing from that big stage in the sky but when I do my shows I imagine they're standing right there with me and talk to them before they start singing.    In my world nobody ever dies.  It's a happy world living here at the funny farm.
 

Well said again, and I agree. I remember today as when Bing died, but I don't really feel sad today - I use the day to remember Bing and dig out some gems. Bing left us with soooooo much material. I think I own the funny farm next to yours before I think the same way!
 

It's 47 years today since Bing died, I remember my late mother and father and i were watching TV the channel was switched to the nine o 'clock news on the BBC , it had already been on for a minute we saw a photo of Bing they were relaying the news of his death on a golf course in Spain of course they showed a clip of Bing singing "White Christmas"  from "Holiday Inn" , they repeated Bing's interview with the late Sir Michael Parkinson the following evening. The newspapers that weekend were full of tributes to Bing.

I was 14 when he died.

I was eight years of age and remember nothing about it. This may have been to do with my not even knowing who Bing was, then. It would take another three for that to flower. However, I do remember that Christmas (and here's the irony), Elvis being seemingly everywhere on UK television during the festive season. It had much to do with his audience reach being of my parent's generation and Bing of my grandparent's. I seem to remember Charlie Chapin's death (on the day itself) also being all over the place during the holidays. 

Last edited by Ian Kerstein (18/10/2024 12:02 am)

Apart from Elvis on August 16, Bing, October 14 and (as mentioned by Ian), Charles Chaplin on Christmas Day, many will have forgotten another showbiz departure from 1977. Groucho Marx died on August 19 of that same year.

I recall famed British broadcaster Alistair Cooke covering both Groucho and Bing, in an edition of his popular ‘Letter from America.’ Hear it here on youtube - Alistair Cooke on Bing Crosby and Groucho Marx.

As for me, I was 23 and had already been a Bing fan for around ten years. After attending a friend’s wedding in an Australian country town, I stayed at a local motel.

The next morning, I heard the 7 o’clock news headlines on the radio - which was sort of wired into the bedhead, as was the style in ‘70s motels. Something like “Crooner Bing Crosby has died on a golf course in Spain.” I went from restful slumber to wide awake - and shocked - in a matter seconds. It's moment I’ll always remember.

What are your memories of October 14, 1977...

Last edited by Rod Poynter (20/10/2024 7:39 am)