plaque · London

Bing Crosby

Photograph at the Bing Crosby plaque
Photograph via Wikipedia (Bing Crosby, CC BY-SA).

This plaque commemorates Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr., an American singer and actor who became one of the most influential musical artists and global cultural icons of the 20th century. A pioneer across multiple media, he achieved immense popularity in record sales, radio, and cinema throughout his career. Crosby was known for making over 70 feature films and recording more than 1,600 songs. His significant impact on popular culture and the entertainment industry is remembered by this London memorial, which marks a notable moment in his artistic life.

Bing Crosby's career spanned a period of significant global upheaval, including World War II, a conflict that deeply affected morale and brought vast numbers of people into military service. During this time, Crosby was widely recognised for his contributions to the morale of servicemen serving overseas. The era saw unprecedented global engagement in warfare, ultimately reshaping nations and societies across the world. His artistry developed amidst recording innovations that allowed for a more personal singing style, setting a precedent for many male vocalists who followed.

The plaque dedicated to Bing Crosby is situated at the BBC Maida Vale Studio on Delaware Road. Visitors can find this studio in London, a location associated with numerous celebrated musical performances and recordings over the years. The plaque commemorates a specific event in Crosby's distinguished career. Prospective visitors should ensure they check any public access arrangements for the BBC studio if they wish to view the plaque, as it is part of an active broadcasting facility.

Inscription

“Bing Crosby made his last recording in this studio 11th October 1977”
Transcribed from the plaque at BBC Maida Vale Studio.

Background

Bing Crosby was a globally recognised singer and actor whose career spanned much of the 20th century. He emerged as a pioneering multimedia star, achieving immense popularity and influence in music, radio, and film. His career from 1926 to 1977 saw him leading in record sales, radio ratings, and box office success, making him one of the first international cultural figures.

Crosby's innovative recording techniques helped him cultivate a personal singing style that inspired a generation of artists. He appeared in over 70 films and recorded around 1,600 songs. During the Second World War, he was recognised for his significant contribution to the morale of servicemen overseas. In 1948, he was named the most admired living man in American polls and his recorded music dominated North American radio airtime.

Source: Open Plaques. Geographic data via OpenStreetMap.

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Data sources

Location records are drawn from open, licence-clean datasets, kept here with attribution and gratitude to the people who maintain them.

  • Open Plaques, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). See openplaques.org.
  • Wikidata, available under the CC0 1.0 Universal dedication.
  • © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database Licence.
  • Historic England, National Heritage List for England, used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. War memorial records are drawn from open community datasets (OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, NHLE) - never from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which is excluded.

Editorial descriptions, photography and tribute links are original TributeLegacy work, layered on top of the open data.

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