<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> "Learn to Croon" Bing Crosby demonstrates how to croon in this 1933 recording </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Problems playing this file? See media help . </Td> </Tr> <P> This dominant popular vocal style coincided with the advent of radio broadcasting and electrical recording . Before the advent of the microphone, popular singers like Al Jolson had to project to the rear seats of a theater, as did opera singers, which made for a very loud vocal style . The microphone made possible the more personal style . Al Bowlly, Gene Austin, Art Gillham and, by some historical accounts, Vaughn De Leath are often credited as inventors of the crooning style, but Rudy Vallée became far more popular, beginning in 1928 . He could be heard by anyone with a phonograph or a radio . </P> <Dl> <Dd> "In his popular radio program, which began with his floating greeting,' Heigh ho, everybody,' beamed in from a New York City night club, he stood like a statue, surrounded by clean - cut collegiate band musicians and cradling a saxophone in his arms ." </Dd> </Dl>

Who established the singing style known as crooning