Bing Crosby & David Bowie : The Interviews on Little Drummer Boy

In honor of the 45th anniversary of this iconic duet I pieced together all known interviews with Bing Crosby & David Bowie concerning the Little Drummer Boy. Most sources cite September 11, 1977 as the date music history was made. Bing Crosby passed away on October 14, 1977. The special, "Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas", first aired on November 30, 1977. At the time of the duet with David Bowie, Bing was still suffering from the effects of a ruptured disc, the result of a 25 foot fall from a stage in Pasadena on March 3rd of that year. He would sit, presumably on the stool David referred to, between takes to rest his back. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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[@patriciamorgan6545]

I grew up watching Bing Crosby's Christmas specials every year, and remember watching this final one with a strong sense of an era coming to a close -- a feeling heightened by the weird and now iconic duet with David Bowie. Bing had passed away about a month or so before it aired (died in October, aired in late November, 1977). It was very strange indeed seeing the two of them sing together; as a Bowie fan (visualizing Ziggy Stardust at the time), they couldn't have seemed more polar opposites. The world seemed to shift on its axis that night.....and yet, what came from it all was enduring magic.
How lucky we are: Apparently Bing passed only 5 weeks after the duet was filmed.

[@JerichoMile4]

David Bowie at age 30 and Bing Crosby was 74 when duet was filmed in 1977 !!!!

[@wallacelovecraft8942]

Very good video. Took the time to make a timeline of videos of bowie and bing talking about each other.

[@AndrewVOdom]

Great interviews on the summit and touching to hear… Bowie seemed bemused by his reception but the fact is Crosby was impressed in interviews about him and also lucid. Ironically Bing outlived him by age- 74 Vs.69 for Bowie years later. He speaks with rock and roll attitude about an older legend but Bing had the chops to the end.
PS : 1977, Conan!

[@honeybeebadger]

It’s a wonderful piece of music and Bowie was inspired by musicals ‘Inch worm’ is one of his favourite songs 💚💛💜

[@rosemow_deppedits5157]

Wow❤😮