Information/Write-up
Canada’s smooth baritone and musical ambassador to television, stage, and record.
Doug Crosley was born in 1936 in Toronto and raised in Oshawa, Ontario, where his lifelong love of singing began in Sunday school and the St. Andrews church choir. While working at General Motors in the engineering department, he entered a local talent show and won over the crowd with “A White Sport Coat (And a Pink Carnation).” That performance launched a professional career that would span more than four decades across Canada and the United States.
In the late 1950s, Crosley began appearing on national television, guesting on CBC programs such as Country Club, Holiday Ranch, Swing Easy, and The Canadian Hit Parade. By the early 1960s, he moved to Winnipeg to host Swing Along, a CBC television variety series. It was there he met his future wife, Jean (Gray), and began raising a family.
Crosley’s breakthrough in the U.S. came when he performed on The Bell Telephone Hour at the Brooklyn Theatre in New York City. This exposure led to a recording contract with RCA Victor, and in 1965 he released his debut LP New Star in Town, arranged by Jack Pleis, Charles Fox, and Marty Manning. The album showcased his romantic balladeer style and featured a blend of contemporary pop and American standards. His follow-up album, Let the Heartaches Begin (Arc AS 266), was released as part of the Arc Centennial Series and featured renditions of contemporary hits and originals.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Crosley remained a familiar face on both Canadian and American television. He made appearances on Juliette and Friends, The Merv Griffin Show, The Mike Douglas Show, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. In the 1970s, he hosted his own nationally broadcast CBC series, The Doug Crosley Show, produced out of Winnipeg. He also emceed numerous industrial shows for General Motors and Chrysler across North America, further blending corporate performance with entertainment.
Crosley was also an accomplished stage actor, starring in lead roles in musical theatre productions including Oklahoma!, Bye Bye Birdie, Guys and Dolls, and Brigadoon. His charisma and warmth made him a natural frontman, whether in the studio, on screen, or under the stage lights.
In addition to his commercial releases, Crosley contributed to several broadcast-only LPs produced by CBC Radio Canada. These include From CBC Toronto (LM 30), arranged by Doug Randle, and From CBC Toronto (LM 09) with the Pat Riccio Orchestra — both part of the rare LM series issued for internal broadcast use across the CBC network.
Later in life, Crosley continued to perform with big bands throughout the United States, particularly in Palm Springs and south Florida. He spent his summers in Lakefield, Ontario, overlooking Chemong Lake, with his longtime partner Mary Elliott. Even in his later years, friends recalled his voice as strong and emotive as ever, offering private concerts and musical storytelling to visitors.
Doug Crosley passed away on March 22, 2019, in Oshawa, Ontario, at the age of 83. He is remembered not only for his voice and poise, but for his generosity, humour, and enduring love of performance. His legacy lives on through his recordings, televised appearances, and the countless lives he touched on and off stage.
-Robert Williston
Come Back to Me
Written by Alan Jay Lerner, Burton Lane
Arranged and conducted by Dick Hyman
from the musical production "On A Clear Day You Can See Forever"
Love Me Forever
Written by Beverly Guthrie, Gary Lynes
Arranged and conducted by Sid Bass
Liner notes:
Doug Crosley offers his second single outing – a song from the forthcoming Broadway production of "On A Clear Day You Can See Forever", the much anticipated new show by Alan Jay Lerner and Burton Lane. The side is COME BACK TO ME, a rhythmic, up-tempo ballad with full orchestra and chorus backing, that Doug handles with ease. It should have no trouble picking up air play. The underlid is the familiar LOVE ME FOREVER. Nice going for this young Canadian.
Doug Crosley nous offre son second 45 tours – une chanson extraite de la production "On A Clear Day You Can See Forever", par Alan Jay Lerner et Burton Lane, ce prochain spectacle est depuis longtemps attendu sur le Broadway. Le côté, COME BACK TO ME est une ballade au rythme rapide que Doug interprète avec aisance accompagné de l'orchestre et du choeur. L’endos est le toujours populaire LOVE ME FOREVER. Nous entendrons ce disque sur les ondes maintes et maintes fois. Bravo à ce jeune canadien-français.
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