This Bing Crosby Doesn't Croon -- Grandson Is Opening Club At Coeur D'alene
COEUR D'ALENE - One look at his driver's license and people think he is joking. "Bing Crosby? Come on, kid. Get serious."
At age 26, Bing Crosby of the Coeur d'Alene area has a pretty good voice, not quite as rich as his famous grandfather.
This Crosby, known as "Flip" to his friends, plans to open a Coeur d'Alene nightclub called Club Cherry Bomb tonight.
"We'll have DJ dance music, and maybe a talent show now and then. But there's no way I'd compete," he said.
His grandfather attended Gonzaga University in nearby Spokane before heading to Hollywood where he made nearly 60 movies and endeared himself to millions through songs like "White Christmas," the best-selling record in history.
His grandson inherited the Crosby looks and a love for music, but does not know the first thing about living like a millionaire. He enjoys imitating his grandfather's smooth style for his wife, Regina, and 1-year-old daughter, Hayden Marie.
He would rather live the high life of an airline pilot than croon to lonely hearts. Growing up in Boise, Crosby acquired his pilot's license and frequently rents planes to soar over Hayden Lake, the place his grandfather retreated to when the pressures of being famous became too great.
The Crosby house on Hayden Lake is now owned by Philip Crosby, the second Bing's father.
Old-timers who met the first Bing remembered a friendly man with jug ears who would make small talk at local coffee counters and ask advice about hunting or fishing.
When Bing died in 1977, Flip was 11.
"I usually only saw my grandpa on summer vacations," he said, "but whenever one of his shows was on TV, we'd gather around. For Christmas, he'd send notebooks and pencils, maybe a ruler. He wasn't much for spoiling us."
If Bing Crosby gets over his stage fright, he would not mind performing his favorite song, "White Christmas."
Perhaps then, police and cashiers will believe him when he tries to convince them he did not forge his driver's license.