Bing Crosby's White Christmas

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Inside the Moment — Historical News Report
Date: May 29, 1942
Location: Hollywood, California

Bing Crosby Records “White Christmas” — A Holiday Classic is Born

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA — In a modest recording session that lasted just 18 minutes on May 29, 1942, Bing Crosby, accompanied by the John Scott Trotter Orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers, recorded what would become the most beloved and best-selling song in music history: White Christmas, written by acclaimed composer Irving Berlin.

Though the simplicity of the session belied its future impact, those present sensed the song’s emotional power. With its wistful lyrics and gentle melody, White Christmas evoked a deep longing for peace and home—resonating especially with soldiers stationed far from their families during the Second World War.

Bing Crosby’s smooth, heartfelt delivery captured the nation’s mood perfectly. The song debuted later that year on Crosby’s popular radio program The Kraft Music Hall and was subsequently featured in the 1942 film Holiday Inn, where it quickly stole the spotlight.

What followed was nothing short of historic. White Christmas soared in popularity, eventually becoming the world’s best-selling single of all time. With an estimated 100 million copies sold globally, the song’s enduring legacy has turned it into a seasonal anthem, played and cherished every holiday season for generations.

What began as a brief recording session has become a timeless piece of American culture—one that continues to bring comfort, nostalgia, and hope with each snowfall and every December evening.

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