Many people have wondered if the late David Crosby, the legendary singer-songwriter and co-founder of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash, was related to Bing Crosby, the iconic singer and actor who dominated the music and film industry in the 20th century. The two Crosbys shared a surname and a passion for music, but were they actually family? Here’s what we found out.
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The Short Answer: No
According to several sources, David Crosby and Bing Crosby were not related by blood or marriage. They had no common ancestors or relatives, and their surnames were just a coincidence. David Crosby was born on August 14, 1941, to Floyd Crosby, an Academy Award-winning cinematographer, and Aliph Van Cortlandt Whitehead, a salesperson. He had an older brother, Ethan, who was also a musician. Bing Crosby was born on May 3, 1903, to Harry Lillis Crosby Sr., a bookkeeper, and Catherine Helen Harrigan, a homemaker. He had six siblings, four of whom also pursued careers in entertainment.
The Long Answer: A Confusing Family Tree
Although the two Crosbys were not related, there was some confusion about their family tree due to a distant connection between their fathers. Bing Crosby’s father, Harry Lillis Crosby Sr., had several brothers, one of whom was Floyd Crosbie Crosby. This Floyd was not David’s father, but his first cousin once removed. David’s father was Floyd Delafield Crosby, who was the son of Fredrick Van Schoonhoven Crosby and Julia Floyd Delafield. Fredrick and Floyd Crosbie were cousins, as their fathers were brothers. This means that David Crosby and Bing Crosby were first cousins twice removed, but they did not share the same surname or DNA.
The Musical Legacy: A Common Influence
Despite having no familial ties, David Crosby and Bing Crosby did have something in common: their musical legacy. Both of them were influential figures in their respective genres and eras, and both of them left behind a rich catalog of songs and albums that are still enjoyed by millions of fans today. David Crosby was one of the pioneers of folk rock and psychedelia in the 1960s with The Byrds, and later formed Crosby, Stills & Nash (and sometimes Young) with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash. He also had a successful solo career and collaborated with many other artists, such as Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, and David Gilmour. He died on January 18, 2023, at the age of 81. Bing Crosby was one of the first multimedia stars and one of the most popular entertainers of all time. He sold over one billion records worldwide and won an Academy Award for his role in Going My Way (1944). He also starred in many other films, such as White Christmas (1954), High Society (1956), and The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945). He was known for his smooth voice and his signature song “White Christmas”, which is still the best-selling single of all time. He died on October 14, 1977, at the age of 74.
The Conclusion: A Coincidence
So there you have it: David Crosby and Bing Crosby were not related in any way, shape, or form. They just happened to have the same last name and a love for music. They also happened to have a distant cousin with the same name as David’s father, which added to the confusion. But now you know the truth behind the rumor: is David Crosby related to Bing Crosby? No, he is not..
