Top 20 Crooners of All Time

Crooners: Top 20

According to Wikipedia, “crooners are singers who sing in a soft, intimate style made possible by the introduction of microphones and amplification.” This technological breakthrough made it possible to pick up quieter sounds and a greater frequency range. Prior to such breakthroughs, singers had to be able to project through a very loud vocal style. Crooners often performed in front of big bands. The style grew to its height in popularity in the 1940s through the late ‘60s. It has, however, continued through modern day artists such as Michael Bublé and Harry Connick, Jr. who sing vocal jazz in a style which has come to be labeled as “traditional pop.” This list was created by aggregating 10 lists focused on the best crooners of all time. See other lists of Acts/Music Makers by Categories. Frank Sinatra 1. Frank Sinatra 2. Bing Crosby 3. Nat “King” Cole 4. Tony Bennett 5. Dean Martin 6. Perry Como 7. Johnny Mathis 8. Bobby Darin 9. Sammy Davis, Jr. 10. Mel Tormé 11. Michael Bublé 12. Harry Connick, Jr. 13. Matt Monro 14. Andy Williams 15. Charles Aznavour 16. Louis Armstrong 17. Barry Manilow 18. Tom Jones 19. Eddie Fisher 20. Vic Damone Resources/Related Links: Wikipedia: List of Crooners Dave’s Music Database: Top 25 Traditional Pop/Vocal Jazz Albums Dave’s Music Database: Lists of Acts/Music Makers by Categories First posted 6/29/2026.

 

100 years ago: “Cuddle Up a Little Closer, Lovey Mine” hit #1

Cuddle Up a Little Closer, Lovey Mine Ada Jones & Billy Murray

Writer(s): Karl L. Hoschna (music), Otto A. Harbach (lyrics) (see lyrics here) First Charted: September 12, 1908 Peak: 15 US, 2 GA (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, -- streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: The “cuddly come-on” TY2 “Cuddle Up a Little Closer, Lovey Mine” was written for a vaudeville sketch, but the writers never got paid so they opted to use it in The Three Twins, a 1908 operetta. Alice Yorke introduced the song in the Broadway musical. TY2 Otto Harbach, who wrote the lyrics, wrote for nearly 50 musical comedies and operettas, collaborating with such famous composers as George Gerswhin and Jerome Kern, and mentored Oscar Hammerstein II. Among his other famous songs were “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” and “Indian Love Call.” The first charted version of the song was by Ada Jones and Billy Murray. Their version from 1908 reached #1. In 1942, Dick Jurgens put the song back on the charts, hitting #24. The next year, Kay Armen & the Balladiers hit the charts, peaking at #19. Guy Lombardo recorded the song in 1948. In 1951, Doris Day recorded the song for her album On Moonlight Bay, featuring songs from the movie of the same name. Others who have recorded the song include Bing Crosby (1959), Vic Damone (1958), Julie London (1959), and Dean Martin (1958). WK It was also performed in Coney Island (1943) by Betty Grable, in Moonlight Bay (1951) by Gordon MacRae and Billy Gray, Tall Story (1960) by Jane Fonda and Anthony Perkins, and Everyone Says I Love You (1996) by Billy Crudup and Sanjeev Rambhadran. WK It has also been used in the films The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939), The Birth of the Blues (1941), Is Everybody Happy? (1943), Four Jills in a Jeep (1944), and Shady Lady (1945). TY2 Resources: TY2 Don Tyler (2007). Hit Songs, 1900-1955. McFarland & Company, Inc.: Jefferson, North Carolina. Pages 39-40. WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 12/14/2022.

Today in Music (1945): Vaughn Monroe “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” charted

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Vaughn Monroe

Writer(s): Jule Styne (music), Sammy Cahn (words) (see lyrics here) First Charted: December 22, 1945 Peak: 15 BB, 15 BS, 15 DJ, 15 JB, 2 GA, 16 SM, 12 HP, 2 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 1.34 video, 2.06 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne wrote “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” in July 1945 during a heat wave in Hollywood, California. WK Cahn would go on to write four Academy Award winning songs. “Three Coins in the Fountain” (1954), “All the Way” (1957), and “High Hopes” (1959) were all popularized by Frank Sinatra. Styne also worked on “Three Coins” and he and Cahn also teamed up for Academy Award nominees “I”ve Heard That Song Before” (1942), “I’ll Walk Alone” (1944), “Anywhere” (1945), “I Fall in Love Too Easily” (1945), “It’s Magic” (1948), and “It’s a Great Feeling” (1949). It has become a seasonal favorite “despite not mentioning Christmas in the lyrics, nor the holiday season.” SM Instead, it is “about being warm and cozy at home in wintertime,” SM cuddling up with someone, and popping corn. Billboard magazine ranked it the second biggest Christmas hit from 1935 to 1954. TY2 The song experienced a revival when it was included in the 1990 Bruce Willis’ movie Die Hard II. Vaughn Monroe was the first to record it that fall. It became a hit that Christmas, reaching #1 for 5 weeks. He was a “big-voiced baritone, trumpeter, and bandleader” PM who charted 67 times from 1940 to 1954. “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” was his sixth of nine #1 songs. PM Three other versions of the song charted in 1946 – Woody Herman (#7), Connee Boswell (#9), and Bob Crosby (#14). PM Frank Sinatra’s 1950 version of the song charted in Australia (#17), Canada (#28), and the UK (#33). Dean Martin recorded the song in 1959 although it would be 2018 before it reached the Billboard Hot 100, going all the way to #8. Others who have charted with the song include George Strait (#72 CW, 1999), Michael Bublé (#1 AC, #44 UK, 2003), Jessica Simpson (#20 AC, 2004), Carly Simon (#6 AC, 2005), Mannheim Steamroller (#26 AC, 2007), Toby Keith (#53 CW, 2007), Rod Stewart & Dave Koz (#1 AC, 2012), Dave Koz with Kenny G (#14 AC, 2014), Seal (#11 AC, 2017), and Pentatonix (#17 AC, 2017). Resources: DJ David Jasen (2002). A Century of American Popular Music: 2000 Best-Loved and Remembered Songs (1899-1999). Routledge: Taylor & Francis, Inc. Page 117. SM Sharon Mawer Charts (1900-1968) TY2 Don Tyler (2007). Hit Songs, 1900-1955. McFarland & Company, Inc.: Jefferson, North Carolina. Page 290. PM Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research, Inc: Menomonee Falls, WI. Pages 318-9 and 539. WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 12/20/2023.