Bing!
Crosby and American Culture

was held

November 14, 15, 16, 2002

Hofstra University commemorated Bing Crosby's life, career and international reputation with a scholarly and professional conference on November 14, 15, and 16, 2002.

For decades Bing Crosby was, as biographer Gary Giddins notes, "...something more than a megastar. No one in the era of Madonna and Michael Jackson has quite the same station as the much-treasured crooner. By 1953 Crosby was undoubtedly the most popular and beloved entertainer in the world, known internationally by such nicknames as "Der Bingle," "El Bingo," and "Le Bing." He was the leading box-office actor for years and, of course, was a mainstay of Decca Records for two decades. An Academy Award winner, a major star of radio, a dedicated performer for the troops during World War II, and later a television star, Crosby exerted an influence on his time and the field of popular music second to no one. Bing Crosby became a living legend, a performer of timeless appeal and universal prominence.

This conference examined his impact on American culture, for he was an artist whose achievements transcend the world of entertainment. The conference also explored the reasons why he has been described as the first of the "universal common men."

Due to illness, Tony Martin, who was originally scheduled to perform at the banquet, was replaced by Margaret Whiting.

American Airlines was the official airline of the Bing Crosby Conference.

The Garden City Hotel was the official hotel of the Bing Crosby Conference.

Conference Director:

Ruth Prigozy
Professor of English and Film Studies
Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and
School of Communication

Conference Coordinator:

Natalie Datlof
Executive Director
Hofstra Cultural Center

For more information about Bing! Crosby and American Culture please contact:

Hofstra Cultural Center
200 Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY 11549-2000
Tel: (516) 463-5669
Fax: (516) 463-4793
E-mail: Send an Email