Bing Crosby's family launch campaign to get White Christmas to Christmas Number One for first time

It might be the world’s best-selling song and a true holiday classic – but White Christmas has never top the charts in the UK during the festive period.
Bing Crosby with his family. Picture: Crosby Family/PA WireBing Crosby with his family. Picture: Crosby Family/PA Wire
Bing Crosby with his family. Picture: Crosby Family/PA Wire

Originally written by Irving Berlin, it was first performed by Bing Crosby on his NBC radio show The Kraft Music Hall on Christmas Day, 1941.

It was later recorded and released on on July 30, 1942, and it has gone on to become the best selling single of all time – according to the Guinness World Records with an estimated 50 million physical copies sold.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Yet it has never made it to the number one spot in the UK charts – let alone Christmas number one.

Read More
Prime Student Living reveals Stanhope House delays started with discovery of hug...

But the family of crooner Crosby want that to change this year and are launching a campaign to get the beloved classic to Christmas number one for 2019.

The late star's family and record label, Decca, are releasing a new album of his music entitled Bing At Christmas.

It sees Crosby's original vocals set to newly-recorded orchestral arrangements, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And his family hope that the new release of White Christmas can reach higher than its peak of number five in the UK charts.

The singer's widow Kathryn said of the album: ‘Hearing Bing's voice with these completely new, beautifully recorded, orchestral accompaniments makes it seem as though he's back after all these years.

‘It's magic.’

White Christmas was also featured in the classic festive film Holiday Inn which was released in 1942 and starred Bing Crosby.

Joining Crosby on White Christmas is the Grammy-winning a cappella group Pentatonix.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bing At Christmas also features arrangements of Winter Wonderland, It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, The Christmas Song and Little Drummer Boy, on which David Bowie joins in a duet recorded in September 1977, just a month before Crosby died.

Bing At Christmas is being released on November 22.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.