By the way, about the other Bing.

Reading up on his contributions to recorded music has made me aware of something I'd never really considered before.

Until quite recently in musical history, there was just no such thing as soft, gentle, quiet singing.

It all had to be loud, so everyone could hear you.

I imagine lots of singers heard how they sounded while singing alone, practicing, trying to keep it down to not disturb others, and thought "hmmm wouldn't it be neat if I could sing like this in concert" but of course they couldn't, without amplification.

Then amplication came along and you could sing into a mic as softly as you wanted, and this was a radical new sound. So out with Al Jolson, in with Der Bingle. Interesting!