The first time he sang it? That was on his radio show, The Kraft Music Hall. It was Christmas Day, 1941. He was just 38 then.
But that live version is a ghost. Nobody has a clear copy. It was just a fleeting moment in radio history. Poof. Gone forever.
So, the official recording date is the one that counts. And that date is May 29, 1942. He was solidly 39 years old. Imagine recording a Christmas song in May. It’s 80 degrees outside. Absurd.
Why May? And Why So Hot?
The record label, Decca, didn't care about seasons. They wanted hits. They booked studio time when it was available. Bing was on tour, so they squeezed him in.
The studio was baking. No air conditioning. Just hot lights and wool suits. Irving Berlin, the songwriter, was there. He was sweating too.
Bing reportedly cracked jokes. “It’s too hot for snow,” he probably grumbled. But then he opened his mouth. And magic happened.
