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Lot 2083

A group of Bing Crosby correspondence

18 November 2012, 10:00 PST
Los Angeles

Sold for US$375 inc. premium

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A group of Bing Crosby correspondence

1934-1950, largely between Crosby and Jack Kapp, founder of Decca Records, including eight typed letters signed by Crosby, one autograph letter signed by Crosby, six telegrams, and nine additional copies of letters from Kapp and Crosby. Kapp was an executive with Brunswick Records before founding Decca in 1934. Crosby was his first big success. These letters discuss several of Crosby's recordings from the 1930s and '40s, including "Love in Bloom," "Poinciana," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," and the Holiday Inn soundtrack album. In 1935, Crosby became concerned that he was saturating the market and telegrams Kapp, "No more recording until records are controlled on air only my picture songs." Kapp replies, "I do appreciate and respect your feelings regarding the abuse of your talent, due to the promiscuous broadcasting of your records. I guess it is the penalty of fame. I believe, however, they would rather hear your records than a great many of your imitators." In a 1939 letter, Crosby criticizes Decca's embrace of the jukebox, writing to Kapp, "I'm going to stop making records if you don't regulate those joke boxes so I'm a legitimate baritone. It's becoming pretty awful." Also included are internal memoranda regarding Crosby's contract with Decca and the creation of Bing Crosby Enterprises.

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