Lindsay Harry Crosby (1938 - 1989)

Born 5 Jan 1938 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Ancestors

Died 11 Dec 1989 at age 51 in Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada, United States

Biography

Lindsay Crosby was the child of a legend... Bing Crosby. It is said Lindsay was much like his mother Dixie Lee and his older brothers were more like their father. Lindsay was the youngest and considered the most sensitive and probably the most troubled.

Lindsay Crosby was born in California on January 5, 1938 and named after his father's closest friend and Thoroughbred horse racing partner, Lindsay Howard. He was educated with his three brothers at Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, California. He was remembered for having a special laid back clever wit like his dad Bing. He performed with his brothers Gary, Dennis and Phillip Crosby as the Crosby Boys during the late 1950s in nightclubs and on The Ed Sullivan Show on American television.

The Crosby Boys had a promising start to life, but the pressures of show business and their own inability to cope blighted their lives. They were greatly affected by their mother's decline into alcoholism and a premature death from cancer in 1952. Heavy drinking and their emotional problems took their toll on all the boys but probably it affected Lindsay the most.

After his mother's death, Lindsay was distraught. To help console him, Bing took him out of school in March 1953. They went on an extended tour of Europe, including an audience with Pope Pious XII.

Before their departure, Bing and Lindsay recorded several duets that were broadcast on Bing’s General Electric Show during their travels. Although the radio broadcasts announced that the recordings were made in France, they were actually recorded in Palm Springs. The series also spotlighted several Lindsay solos. The following year, Lindsay joined Bing and Gary for several nostalgic barbershop routines on the General Electric Show. Lindsay also contributed several solos and duets to The Bing Crosby Show (1954-56) where his radio banter with his father revealed a keen sense of comedy timing. In addition, Lindsay was a special guest on Bing’s legendary Edsel Show in 1957.

With Bing’s help, Lindsay got a recording contract with RCA in 1958, and enjoyed a modest hit with “Friendship Ring.” He went on to appear in a slew of B movies such as The Girls from Thunder Strip and Zebra Force.

Lindsay was married three times to: Barbara D. Fredrickson from 1960-1962, Janet Sue Schwartze from 1966-1967, and to Susan Marlin from 1968-1978. He also had four sons: David Crosby, Adam Crosby, Sean Crosby, and L. Chip Crosby.

On December 1, 1989 Lindsay and his three brothers were told by attorneys that the oil investments their mother made for them had gone broke. It is thought for Lindsay, this news was the "last straw" after years of battling alcoholism, depression and the strain of living under the shadow of his famous father.

"Maybe if he had been a meaner person, he could have handled it," a family spoke person reported Gary Crosby saying after learning of his brother's death. "He was too sensitive."

Crosby, 51, was found dead on December 11, 1989. Crosby had been staying at the apartment on Bravo Lane while undergoing treatment for alcoholism in nearby Calabasas, Reiss said. He was due to return home to his third ex-wife, Susan, and two sons in Sherman Oaks this weekend, she said. Crosby had two other sons by previous marriages.

Since Lindsay's unfortunate death in 1989, the memory of Bing Crosby has suffered due to the tragedy. Many critics have blamed Bing and his parenting for attributing to Lindsay's death while others say this is not true.

SOURCE: Bing Crosby New Archive: Spotlight on Lindsey Crosby (http://bingfan03.blogspot.com/2011/08/spotlight-on-lindsay-crosby.html : accessed 29 July 2014)

Source

"United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9HL-R77 : accessed 30 Jul 2014), Lindsay H Crosby in household of Harry L Crosby, Councilmanic District 1, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Township, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 60-1312, sheet 3A, family 54, NARA digital publication of T627, roll 377.

"New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957", index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/2HM4-G2P : accessed 29 Jul 2014), Lindsey Crosby, 1953.

"California, Marriage Index, 1960-1985," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V682-5T7 : accessed 30 Jul 2014), Lindsay M Crosby and Barbara D Fredrickson, 06 Feb 1960; citing "California, Marriage Index, 1960-1985," Ancestry.com; Los Angeles, California, Center for Health Statistics, Department of Health Services, Sacramento.

"Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956-2005," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VVJL-K8M : accessed 30 Jul 2014), Lindsay H Crosby and Janet Sue Schwartze, 12 Feb 1966; from "Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956-2005," index, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : 2007); citing , Nevada, United States, County Book , p. M10, archive film number .

"California, Divorce Index, 1966-1984," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VP52-KFY : accessed 30 Jul 2014), Janet S Schwartze and Lindsay H Crosby, Mar 1967; citing "California, Divorce Index, 1966-1984," Ancestry.com; Los Angeles City, California, Center for Health Statistics, Department of Health Services, Sacramento.

"California, Marriage Index, 1960-1985," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V664-PJT : accessed 30 Jul 2014), Lindsay H Crosby and Patricia S Marlin, 27 Oct 1968; citing "California, Marriage Index, 1960-1985," Ancestry.com; Los Angeles City, California, Center for Health Statistics, Department of Health Services, Sacramento.