The Song Planner

Classic Crooner Pop

tagStarted c. 1945Peak 1953–1965Last big hit c. 1967

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Easy Listening / Standards / Lounge → Crooners / Classic Vocalists

Classic Crooner Pop is the postwar commercial sweet spot where crooning meets concise, memorable pop songwriting. It tends to be more single-oriented and less overtly jazz-inflected than swing crooning, with plush but efficient arrangements and immediate emotional payoff.

History

As the star singer replaced the big band as the main unit of pop commerce, crooners began cutting records that balanced standards, contemporary songs, and television-friendly personality; Perry Como, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis, Bobby Vinton, and Nat King Cole exemplified the style, which remained a major MOR force even as youth-oriented rock redrew the mainstream.

Defining artists

Essential listening

← Explore Easy Listening / Standards / Lounge

Sources

  • Encyclopaedia Britannica on Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra
  • Wikipedia, “Crooner.”