But as Gary Giddins amply demonstrates in his biography “Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams, The Early Years, 1903-1940,” Bing was an instant hit on records and radio, and in the movies.

The Early Years, 1903-1940. By Gary Giddins. Little, Brown, $30. FOR nearly two decades, from 1935 to 1955, Bing Crosby was the most popular entertainer in America, perhaps in the world.

The book contains more great stories about Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Bob Hope and other luminaries who crossed paths with Bing and Nathaniel, a winner of the 1981 U.S. Amateur.

It’s been almost 18 years since the publication of “Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams,” Gary Giddins’s intelligent and formidably well-informed biography covering the entertainer’s life ...

A&E Books Biographer Gary Giddins shines light on Bing Crosby’s ‘War Years’ Sun., Oct. 28, 2018 ...

18 Holes with Bing: Golf, Life and Lessons from Dad, By Nathaniel Crosby and John Strege, Dey St. Books, $23, hardback, 212 pages “Straight Down the Middle” is one of the great golf sings ...

Bing Crosby, backed by John Scott Trotter, at the Hollywood Canteen in 1944. From Bing Crosby: Swinging on a Star, by Gary Giddins. (HLC Properties, Ltd. / Little, Brown) ...

Bing Crosby’s son on his father’s first love. It’s not singing. June 10, 2016 More than 9 years ago ...

At the same time, books such as “Bing Crosby: The Hollow Man” (1981) by Donald Shepherd and Robert F. Slatzer and Gary Crosby’s “Going My Own Way” (1983, written with Ross Firestone ...

(The book ends with “Road to Singapore,” Bing’s first movie with Bob Hope; volume two will cover the big movie years, “White Christmas,” his second family and charges of son-whupping ...