David Bowie and Bing Crosby were an unexpected duo, but their collaboration proved magical. Their famous Christmas duet highlights that teamwork can create something special. In September 1977, as autumn began in England, Bing Crosby was filming his Christmas special and invited David Bowie to join him for a rendition of “Little Drummer Boy.” However, there was a small issue.
In an interview shared on PBS, songwriter Alan “Buz” Kohan explained how things unfolded when Bowie reviewed the song arrangement. Kohan noted that the production company, Smith-Hemion, believed Bowie and Crosby would complement each other well. They thought it would be interesting to include English performers, such as Twiggy, in the show. Kohan remarked that Bowie’s agreement was surprising, considering he was known for his Ziggy Stardust persona, which was quite different from Crosby’s style.
There turned out to be a challenge. Kohan mentioned that during rehearsals, Bowie expressed his dissatisfaction with the song, stating it did not highlight his vocal range. Even though they had everything prepared, Kohan and his team had to act quickly to address Bowie’s concerns. He told Bowie they would work to make it more appealing, so he, along with composer Larry Grossman and music director Ian Fraser, went to a small room to create a new melody and bridge for the song.
Within about an hour, they wrote a new arrangement. Kohan explained that once they presented it to Bowie again, he agreed to it and felt it was good enough to rehearse with Crosby. They were able to film it that same day. Kohan also highlighted Crosby’s ability to quickly adapt to new material, noting his intelligence and awareness, which allowed him to maintain his unique style while learning new songs.
This collaboration has become one of the most cherished holiday songs. The combination of Crosby’s rich baritone and Bowie’s striking higher notes creates a beautiful blend. It represents a mix of two voices, two songs, and two generations coming together harmoniously. Bing Crosby’s daughter, Mary, shared her immediate thoughts about the duet during a summer TV critics tour in 2014.
What do you think about this famous collaboration?
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Source: Upworthy, by Cecily Knobler