Lots of gags going all the time, you know, because he loved to laugh.

He was best known as a singer selling more than 300 million records and recording the evergreen hit White Christmas but was also a celebrated TV and film actor and radio star.

Crosby (born 3 May 1093; died 14 October 1977, at the age of 74), made 80 movies, winning an Oscar in 1943.

Bing Crosby was 23 and working with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra when, at the urging of singer Mildred Bailey, he went to see Armstrong at the Sunset Caf in Chicago.

It was an integrated audience, and Crosby, sitting in the front row, was overwhelmed by Armstrongs performance by his singing and his irreverent showmanship.

Armstrong sang with passion, played trumpet with panache and also larked about, impersonating a Deep South preacher while wearing a deacons coat.

Crosby was in awe of Armstrongs ability to combine music and humour.

He always adapted what he had learned from Armstrong and from jazz into his own style Crosby was indelibly tied to a jazz aesthetic through his inherent sense of swing and his great appreciation (and emulation) of Armstrongs genius for vocal phrasing, spontaneity, emotion and comedy.

At the time of the Sunset Caf gig, Armstrong enjoyed listening to Crosbys records with The Rhythm Boys and later adapted elements of Crosbys crooning style into the ballads he covered, such as Stardust and Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams.

Bings voice has a mellow quality that only Bings got.

Its like gold being poured out of a cup, Armstrong told Time magazine in 1955.

He also called Crosby a natural genius the day he was born and one of the finest guys in this musical and wonderful world, with a heart as big.

Despite protests from the producers, Crosby insisted that Armstrong be given prominent billing and feature on the film poster.

They also successfully recorded music from the film, including a version of the title song, cut with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.

Bings son Gary Crosby said, Louis loved my father and Louis was always one of Bings favourites.

The movie included an all-star jam session with Crosby and guest stars Armstrong and Dorothy Lamour.

Also in 1951, a version of Gone Fishin, cut with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra, went down so well with the audience at a radio show that Crosby and Armstrongs version was released as single by Decca and reached No.19 in the charts.

When someone mentions seeing Crosby and Armstrong, the jazz man says, Ah, give that buzzard my regards there Shove him my regards, Daddy.

Crosby said it was the favourite of all the movies he made, and Holm said the cast had such fun because Armstrong and his All-Stars were always informally jamming and bantering between takes.

He said: It sounds like an aural cartoon, since the voices have so much character.

The songs included Muskat Ramble and At The Jazz Band Ball, and Johnny Mercer s Little Ol Moon and Rocky Mountain Moon, which the composer specially adapted for the pair, adding special effects and vocals.

May said: That was a labour of love for John Mercer because John loved Louis, and I know hes a good friend of Bings.

Louis was fun to work with and Bing of course enjoyed being around musicians.

As he put it: I never met anybody that didnt love Louis that ever saw him work or ever has encountered him, had any connection or any business with him Any time I ever worked with Louis it was just a pleasure to be around.

Bing Crosby Albums Worth