Melvin Howard Tormé (September 13, 1925 – June 5, 1999),
nicknamed The Velvet Fog, was an American musician, best known as a singer of
jazz standards. He was also a jazz composer and arranger, drummer, an actor in
radio, film, and television, and the author of five books. He composed the
music for "The Christmas Song" ("Chestnuts Roasting on an Open
Fire") and co-wrote the lyrics with Bob Wells.
He was born Melvin Howard Torma to a musical family, his
father, a Russian immigrant owned a dry goods store He began singing publicly
at the age of four at a restaurant, then make his professional debut with the
Coon-Sanders Orchestra. At age nine, he was doing parts for Chicago radio plays
"Romance of Helen Trent" and "Jack Armstrong, the All-American
Boy" while a snare drummer in the Shakespeare Elementary School drum and
bugle corps in Chicago.
In high school, he formed his own band and sold his first
written song, "Lament of Love," to Harry James who made a recording.
In early 1940, he quit high school to become a singer, drummer and arranger
with Chico Marx's band.
In 1944, Mel formed
his own vocal group, the Mel-Tones which produced the hit, "What is This
Thing Called Love?" which has become a jazz standard. He was drafted for a
time during World War II but was quickly discharged with flat feet. Mel became
a successful solo artist in 1947 and soon had a number one hit in
"Careless Love."
His appearances at New York's Copacabana led local disc
jockey Fred Robbins to give him the nickname "The Velvet Fog" in honour
of his high tenor and smooth vocal style. Tormé detested the nickname. He
self-deprecatingly referred to it as "this Velvet Frog voice".
As a solo singer, he recorded several romantic hits for
Decca Records and with the Artie Shaw Orchestra on the Musicraft label
(1946–48). In 1949, he moved to Capitol Records, where his first record,
"Careless Hands," became his only number-one hit. His versions of
"Again" and "Blue Moon" became signature songs. His composition
California Suite, prompted by Gordon Jenkins's "Manhattan Tower,"
became Capitol's first 12-inch LP album. Around this time, he helped pioneer
cool jazz.
He made over 50 Albums during his career but recorded his
best while collaborating with George Shearing on several excellent albums,
"An Evening With George Shearing and Mel Torme" and "Top
Drawer" which earned him a Granny for Best Male Jazz Vocalist in 1982 and
1983.
He made a career with television guest appearances. Most
notable for many...Spike Jones Show, The Judy Garland Show, Lucy Show, The
Tonight Show, Starring Johnny Carson and Night Court. Some of his many onetime
appearances...Playhouse 90 (nominated best supporting actor Emmy for his role
in "The Comedian") The Virginian, The Mike Douglas Show, The
Hollywood Palace, The Bold Ones: The Lawyers, Chase and Seinfelt.
Torme performed constantly in Las Vegas and jazz clubs
around the country. He wrote over 300 songs and worked as an actor and some of
his many movies..."Higher and Higher" "Lets go Steady"
"The Fearmakers" "Walk Like a Dragon" and the "Private
Lives of Adam and Eve." He wrote his own biography "It Wasn't All
Velvet" in 1988 and also biographies of his life-long friend, drummer
Buddy Rich and a scathing tell-tale book "The Other Side of the Rainbow:
Behind the Scenes on the Judy Garland Television series" a remembrance of
her disastrous television series where he worked as the music writer and then a
nice tribute to singers who influenced him, "My Singing Teachers"
with a chapter devoted to his favourite Bing Crosby.
His public service was held at the Pierce Brothers Chapel
and Westwood Memorial Park where he was interred. Mel Torme was eulogized
during his service by Donald O'Connor, Carleton Heston and Cliff Robertson.
Torme was inducted into the Big Band Jazz Hall of Fame in
1990. In February 1999, he was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award..
His plaque on the Hollywood Walk of Fame honours his excellence in recording.
Among his children are notables Tracy Torme and Steve March.
(Compiled from
Wikipedia and mainly bio by Donald Greyfield)
1 comment:
For “Mel Torme – The Velvet Fog” 1944 – 1949 recordings go here:
https://www.mediafire.com/file/q8q9eer9mhscdl7/Mel%20Torme-Velvet%20Fog.rar
1. Careless Hands
2. A Stranger In Town
3. I Got The Sun In The Morning
4. Try A Little Tenderness
5. It Happened In Monterey (including Ramona)
6. Born To Be Blue
7. Get Out Of Town
8. What Is This Thing Called Love?
9. Guilty
10. A Little Kiss Each Morning
11. It's Dreamtime
12. You're Driving Me Crazy
13. Ballerina
14. The Best Things In Life Are Free
15. Until The Real Thing Comes Along
16. Night And Day
17. But Beautiful
18. Gone With The Wind
19. Little White Lies
20. I Cover The Waterfront
21. A Foggy Day
22. Again
23. The Four Winds And The Seven Seas
24. The Old Master Painter
25. Blue Moon
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