Career: In 1923, Crosby played the drums in a band comprised of high school students. Two years later, he formed a vocal duo with Al Rinker. With the help of bandleader Paul Whiteman, they made their debut in 1926 at the Tivoli Theatre in Chicago. Pianist Harry Barris became the third member of the group and they went by the name The Rhythm Boys. In 1928, the group had a number one hit with a cover of Ol' Man River. In 1931, Crosby made his debut as a solo artist and recorded a number of chart-topping singles. Crosby's biggest hit was his recording of Irving Berlin's White Christmas, a song he first sang on a Christmas Day radio broadcast in 1941. It has sold more than 100 million copies around the world. He made a successful transition into the world of films, winning an Academy Award in 1944 for Going My Way. His other film credits include Holiday Inn (1942), The Bells of St Mary's (1945), Road to Utopia (1946), Here Comes the Groom (1951), White Christmas (1954), and The Country Girl (1954). His last TV appearance was a Christmas special recorded in September 1977 and featured a duet of The Little Drummer Boy with David Bowie. On October 14, 1977, he suffered a fatal heart attack on a Spanish golf course. He was 74.