Bing Crosby was born in Tacoma, Washington, on May 3, 1903, and died in Madrid, Spain, on October 14, 1977. During the three decades since his death, fan clubs have played an indispensable role in working to preserve Crosby's incomparable musical legacy for the continued enjoyment of the general public around the world. Without their efforts, it is unlikely that his once widely popular recordings and films would have remained as well known as they are today.

Various Bing Crosby fan clubs have come and gone over the years, but two major organizations—one in the United States and one in Great Britain—have been at the forefront of endeavors to keep Crosby's memory alive during a period of dramatic change in popular music tastes and a sharp decline in the attention paid by the media to vocalists of the first half of the twentieth century, Bing Crosby included.

Even though Bing Crosby's once dominant position as a leading star on radio, in films, and on records has faded considerably since his death (except, of course, for the annual rediscovery of his talents during the Christmas holiday season), the activities and membership roles of his two leading fan clubs have continued to expand to the point that they are now even more influential than they were during Crosby's lifetime.

The original, officially approved Bing Crosby fan club was organized in the United States in 1936, some five years after he leapt to nationwide stardom via his radio programs on the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), his early series of musical films for Paramount Pictures, and his best-selling recordings for the Brunswick, and later Decca, record labels.