He invented crooning as a pop music vocal style.

I would argue that the invention of the microphone "invented" it. Without the microphone, that style wasn't do-able. With the microphone, it was an inevitable evolution. If Bing didn't pick up on it, someone else would have. I don't think the Beatles, or the Stones, or the Doors, were "inevitable".

Sano made a good point about Fender.

Clapton wasn't the first to play a Fender. He was one of the best, however. (He also played acoustic, so skilled in both 'forms'.)

Not to pick on him, but Bing wasn't much of a musician. He -to my knowledge- didn't play anything, he didn't compose anything. He just sang (with a pleasant voice). That's it. Color me not impressed. I have more respect for Taylor Swift or Lady Gaga because they write, play, and sing. Not particularly fond of their stuff, but I recognize the raw talent behind it. I have issues with putting singers into the same category as actual musicians who write, play, AND perform.