Me and Uncle Bing

Famous entertainer Bing Crosby had four brothers and two sisters which provided him with numerous nieces and nephews. One of these, his sister Mary Rose's daughter Carolyn, had aspirations of being in show business. The logical next step after graduation was for Carolyn to contact her uncle Bing, to ask for help and advice. Fortunately she enjoyed a warm relationship with the man once called 'The Groaner", having spent summer vacations visiting him and other Crosby family members in Los Angeles. As a child she recalls the pool parties, visits to Paramount Studios and his dressing room on the lot. How ironic it was then, that years later Bing would plan for her to live with him briefly and then arrange for her to be hired by Paramount. As the years rolled by, Bing continued to be involved in Carolyn's life: there were invitations to dinner parties, the Crosby Pro-Am golf tournament, family Christmas parties, vacations at his Elko ranch, as well as other locations where Bing maintained additional homes. On a personal level, the author tells of Bing's generosity to her, both financially and in the area of advice and counsel. Unlike some reports of Bing as 'cold and aloof", this family member recalls an uncle that was caring and concerned about her welfare, always ready and willing to lend a helping hand. Carolyn also discusses her connection to Dixie Lee, Bing's first wife and their four sons. To the delight of Bing's fans, both old and new, there are over one hundred photos, many from the private collections of the Crosby family. The book concludes with mention of the tributes to her uncle Bing over the past several years and the new exhibit of Bing Crosby memorabilia in the Northeastern Nevada Museum. In the epilogue, a curious set of circumstances surrounds the lives of Bing and singer Russ Columbo. Read more