Today's illustrious band:

The Scalp Doilies

Brought to you by Bing Crosby.

This week marked the 25th anniversary of Mr. Crosby's death. (I've been listening to NPR in the car again.) I learned many interesting tidbits about the prolific film star — he appeared in 64 movies — and crooner — he's credited with over 1,700 recordings, about 300 of them hits. For instance, Bing had jug ears that his makeup man always had to tape back during filming, and sometimes an ear would pop free mid-take. Bing also lacked enough natural hair on his head to be considered a true matinee idol, so he wore toupees in his movies. He hated them and referred to them as scalp doilies. Upon receiving a new script to consider, he would always count the number of outdoor scenes, giving preference to films with plenty of exteriors in which he could wear a hat and forego the hairpiece.

There's a wealth of further information out there about the Bingster, which I'll leave you to wade through on your own. I might just pick up one of those recordings myself next time I'm in the media store. Hair or no hair, the man had a terrific voice.

Bing Crosby, 1903 - 1977

Media Sensation Jugglernaut