PAT BOONE

pop singer

“It was a Bing Crosby album.

“That was way back when kids still tended to like the kinds of music that their parents liked. My folks were big Bing Crosby fans, and so was I.

“I really like what he did with ‘Alexander's Ragtime Band,’ ‘Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral,’ ‘Mademoiselle’ and later ‘In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening.’ Even when I was 12 years old or so, I’d have to say that he was my biggest influence. I just loved his casual approach.”