Christmas Memories and Rat Pack Stories: A Look Back with Phil Crosby Jr.
In the early days of fast-food drive-thrus, Dean Martin, a Rat Pack legend, once accidentally damaged his expensive vintage car while trying to get a burger for his girlfriend's son. Phil Crosby Jr., the grandson of Bing Crosby, shared a story about his mother dating and being engaged to Martin after her marriage to Phil Crosby Sr. ended. Crosby Jr. mentioned that he almost became Dean Martin's stepson, but it didn't happen. He recalled how his mother met Martin at a club and started dating him, despite their eventual breakup due to her not being ready for marriage again.
Crosby Jr. remembered Martin as an older man who used to call him "the kid." He shared a memory of Martin asking him to fetch cigarettes, but he refused, showing a lack of respect for elders. Another story passed down to Crosby Jr. was about Martin driving his classic Stutz car into a narrow drive-thru to get food for "the kid," resulting in damage to the valuable vehicle. Despite the incident, Martin was described as a sweet and non-materialistic man who didn't mind the damage caused to his car.
Crosby Jr. reflected on the significance of Christmas for his grandfather, Bing Crosby, emphasizing the importance of the holiday in their family traditions. He mentioned the festive celebrations at the Crosby House with tall trees and lots of presents, highlighting Bing Crosby's influence on Christmas music. Crosby Jr. also shared his experience of celebrating Crosby family holidays with his cousins, uncles, and other relatives, expressing gratitude for those memories.
Additionally, Crosby Jr. is set to release two holiday singles, including a cover of a rare Bing Crosby song titled "A Time to be Jolly" and an original song called "Guess Who's Coming Tonight." He described "A Time to be Jolly" as a fun and silly Christmas song that he hopes people will enjoy, noting its uniqueness compared to other holiday classics. Overall, Crosby Jr. reminisced about his family's Christmas traditions and the joy of celebrating with the extended Crosby family.