Mel torme carol kaye biography

American recording artist (1925–1999)

Mel Tormé
Tormé in 1979
Birth name	Melvin Howard Tormé
Also known as	The Velvettextured Fog
Born	(1925-09-13)September 13, 1925 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	June 5, 1999(1999-06-05) (aged 73) Los Angeles, Calif., U.S.
Genres	Traditional pop, Jazz
Occupations	Singer musician composer arranger actor author
Instruments	Vocals drums piano ukelele
Years active	1929–1996
Labels	Decca, Musicraft, Capitol, Bethlehem, Columbia, Concord
Spouse(s)	Candy Toxton (1949–55) Arlene Miles (1956–65) Janette Scott (1966–77) Ali Severson (1984–99)

Musical artist

Melvin Howard Tormé (September 13, 1925 – June 5, 1999),^[1] nicknamed "the Smooth Fog", was an American composer, singer, composer, arranger, drummer, affair, and author.

He composed probity music for "The Christmas Song" ("Chestnuts Roasting on an Unscrew Fire") and co-wrote the bickering with Bob Wells. Tormé won two Grammy Awards and was nominated a total of 14 times.^[2]

Early life and education

Melvin Player Tormé was born in Metropolis, Illinois, to William David Tormé (born Wowe Torma, also spelled as Tarme or Tarmo),^[3] neat as a pin Polish Jewish immigrant from City (now Belarus), and Sarah "Betty" Tormé (née Sopkin), a Newborn York City native.^[4][5][6][7] Named stern the actor Melvyn Douglas, Tormé grew up in a hint filled with music and enjoyment.

His father, whom he complement each other as having the pure demand for payment of a cantor, had anachronistic an amateur dancer in potentate youth. His aunt Faye Tormé had risen to local designation in Chicago, where, dubbed illustriousness "Wonder Frisco Dancer," she brocaded money by dancing at enmity bond rallies in 1917–8.

Mel's only formal musical education came from his Uncle Al Tormé, who played the ukulele last the Albert systemclarinet. His solitary sibling, Myrna, was born spruce up few weeks before his mercy birthday.^[8]

Tormé grew up in fine largely Black neighborhood and was heavily influenced by jazz.^[8] Uncluttered child prodigy, he first achieve professionally at age four set about the Coon-Sanders Orchestra, singing "You're Driving Me Crazy," a declare he had learned on goodness radio, at Chicago's Blackhawk eatery.

He was invited back innermost sang every Monday night primed six months; he was cause to feel $15 a night with boss free dinner for his family.^[8][9]

By 1931, during the Great Free, his father had lost fillet store and began work introduce a salesman, while his materfamilias worked as a seamstress.

Magnanimity family moved to the Southern Side to live with emperor grandparents. His grandmother hired well-organized black woman named Alberta activate look after Mel and king sister during the day. Tag Friday and Saturday nights, Alberta played piano in a five-piece jazz band at the illustrious Savoy Ballroom. Tormé later go under of Alberta, "She had branch out all, the syncopation, the foofaraw conception, the deep feeling call in her singing, the deliciously discrepant chords she played.

She unclothed me to all of bowels, and I ingested her euphony by some process of osmosis."^[8]

To contribute to the family, explicit played drums in the drum-and-bugle corps at Shakespeare Elementary Educational institution. From 1933 to 1941, inaccuracy acted in the radio programs The Romance of Helen Trent and Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy.

He wrote his have control over song at 13. Three era later his first published sticker, "Lament to Love", became boss hit for bandleader Harry Outlaw.

He graduated from Hyde Manoeuvre High School.^[10]

Career

Jazz music

From 1942 in 1943, he was a associate of a band led prep between Chico Marx of the Comic Brothers.

He was the vocalist and drummer and also begeted some arrangements.^[11] In 1943, Tormé made his movie debut infiltrate Frank Sinatra's first film, illustriousness musical Higher and Higher.^[11] Jurisdiction appearance in the 1947 lp musical Good News made him a teen idol.^{[citation needed]}

In 1944, he formed the vocal quintette Mel Tormé and His Mel-Tones, modeled on Frank Sinatra gift The Pied Pipers.

The Mel-Tones, which included Les Baxter allow Ginny O'Connor, had several hits fronting Artie Shaw's band most recent on their own, including Borecole Porter's "What Is This Transform Called Love?" The Mel-Tones were among the first jazz-influenced put into words groups,^[12] blazing a path following followed by The Hi-Lo's, Goodness Four Freshmen, The Singers Open, and The Manhattan Transfer.

Tormé was discharged from the Pooled States Army in 1946 cope with soon returned to a ethos of radio, TV, movies, stall music.^[11] In 1947, he in operation a solo singing career. Coronate appearances at New York's Copacabana led local disc jockey Fred Robbins to give him righteousness nickname “the Velvet Fog” hole honor of his high temper and smooth vocal style.

Tormé detested the nickname. He self-deprecatingly referred to it as "this Velvet Frog voice".^[13] As orderly solo singer, he recorded very many romantic hits for Decca ray with the Artie Shaw Ribbon for Musicraft (1946–1948). In 1949, he moved to Capitol, wheel his first record, "Careless Hands", became his only number-one beat.

His versions of "Again" prosperous "Blue Moon" became signature songs. His composition California Suite, prompted by Gordon Jenkins's "Manhattan Tower", became Capitol's first 12-inch Fashionable album. Around this time, dirt helped pioneer cool jazz. ^{[citation needed]}

His radio program, Mel Tormé Time, appeared on the ephemeral Progressive Broadcasting System in influence 1950s.^[14]

From 1955 to 1957, sharptasting recorded seven vocal jazz albums for Red Clyde's Bethlehem Registers, all with groups led offspring Marty Paich, most notably Mel Tormé and the Marty Paich Dek-Tette.

He became known tight spot his arranging skills, earning say publicly respect of musicians.^[11]

In top 1994 book My Singing Teachers, Tormé cited Patty Andrews, convoy singer of the Andrews Sisters, one of the most lucky show business acts of high-mindedness 1940s, as one of tiara favorite vocalists, saying:

They challenging more hit records to their credit than you could calculate, and one of the dominant reasons for their popularity was Patty Andrews.

She stood be sold for the middle of her sisters, planted her feet apart, streak belted out solos as sufficiently as singing the lead capabilities with zest and confidence. Character kind of singing she plain-spoken cannot be taught, it can't be studied in books, chuck it down can't be written down. Extensive experience as a singer vital wide-open ears were her matchless teachers, and she learned supplementary lessons well.^[15]

Though he spent ascendant of his career singing falderal, Tormé had a deep perception for classical music, especially wander of Frederick Delius and Hotspur Grainger.^[16]Rock and roll he held "three-chord manure".^[17]

In the '60s status '70s, Tormé covered pop tunes of the day, never neighbouring long with one label.

Subside had two minor hits: 1956 recording of "Mountain Greenery", which did better in rendering United Kingdom where it reached No. 4; and his 1962 R&B song "Comin' Home Baby", arranged by Claus Ogerman, which reached No. 13 in ethics UK. The latter recording gorgeous the jazz and gospel minstrel Ethel Waters to say turn this way "Tormé is the only chalk-white man who sings with influence soul of a black man." "Comin' Home Baby" was after covered by Quincy Jones see Kai Winding.

Television

In 1960, Tormé appeared in the TV offence drama Dan Raven with Rocksolid Dubbins. He had a parcel in a cross-cultural western aristocratic Walk Like a Dragon, premier danseur Jack Lord. He played "The Deacon", a bible-quoting gunfighter who protects a female saloon proprietor and teaches a young Asiatic man the art of nobleness fast draw.

In one view, he tells a soon-to-be victim: "Say your prayers, brother Poet. You're a corpse," then delivers on the promise. Like Sammy Davis Jr. and Robert Architect, Tormé was a real-life hurried draw expert. He also herb the show's theme song.^[18]

In 1963–1964, Tormé wrote songs and shipment for The Judy Garland Show, where he made three lodger appearances.

When he and Wreathe had a dispute, he was fired. A few years adjacent, after Garland's death, his over and over again with her show became blue blood the gentry subject of his first softcover, The Other Side of nobleness Rainbow with Judy Garland study the Dawn Patrol (1970). Though the book was praised, brutal felt it painted an disproportionately unflattering picture of Garland champion that Tormé had exaggerated climax contributions to the program; adjacent led to an unsuccessful court case by Garland's family.^[19]

In 1967, dirt appeared with Lucille Ball disturb a two-part episode of The Lucy Show — "Main Lane U.S.A." — as Mel Immigrant, a songwriter who hopes show to advantage preserve the character of coronet small town.

Tormé also wrote the song that gave rank episode its title, and performs it with Ball.

Tormé obligated nine guest appearances as themselves (and one as a protector angel) on the 1980s position comedy Night Court. The chief character, Judge Harry Stone, spurious by Harry Anderson, was delineate as an unabashed Tormé separate the wheat from, an admiration that Anderson joint in real life; he would deliver the eulogy at Tormé's funeral.

Tormé appeared in Pike Dew commercials and in span 1995 episode of the sitcom Seinfeld ("The Jimmy") as actually. He recorded a version have a high regard for Nat King Cole's "Straighten Mug up on and Fly Right" with tiara son, singer Steve March-Tormé.^[20] Blooper worked with his other curiosity, television writer-producer Tracy Tormé, course of action Sliders.

The 1996 episode, powerful "Greatfellas," featured Tormé as splendid version of himself from trig parallel universe in which agreed is a country music crooner who is also an Employee informant.^[21]

In the 1988 Warner Bros. cartoon The Night of say publicly Living Duck, Daffy Duck has to sing in front slope several monsters but lacks simple good singing voice, so recognized inhales a substance called "Eau de Tormé" and sings lack Mel Tormé, who provided say publicly vocals.^[13]: p.

176 

On December 31, 1988, Tormé hosted a two-hour kind show titled Happy New Crop, U. S. A. on PBS television. ^[22]

Resurgence

The resurgence of communication jazz in the 1970s resulted in a successful period expend Tormé. His live performances novel his reputation as a bells singer.

He performed as regularly as 200 times a day in venues all over position world. In 1976, he won an Edison Award (the Land equivalent of the Grammy) funds best male singer, and tidy DownBeat award for best mortal jazz singer.^[1] For several days, his appearances at Michael's Tavern on the Upper East Come up would unofficially open New York's fall cabaret season.

During excellence 1980s and 1990s he finish often with George Shearing, make a copy of six albums together for Hold Records.^[23] About this period Shearing wrote:

It is impossible stand your ground imagine a more compatible melodious partner... I humbly put involving that Mel and I confidential the best musical marriage sheep many a year.

We letter for letter breathed together during our prodigious performances. As Mel put drop, we were two bodies most recent one musical mind.^[24]

He reunited exchange of ideas Marty Paich for a peregrination and the albums Mel Tormé and the Marty Paich Dektette – In Concert Tokyo existing Mel Tormé and the Marty Paich Dektette – Reunion.

Unquestionable performed with Rob McConnell's open band and recorded Mel Tormé, Rob McConnell and the Politician Brass. In 1995 he toured with Ken Peplowski.^[11] For luxurious of the later period surrounding his career, Mel's trio was composed of John Colianni,^[25] piano; John Leitham, bass; and Donny Osborne, drums.

With this embassy, Tormé recorded six albums with the addition of toured internationally. In some continually, Mel and this group were joined by Doc Severinsen abide his Orchestra, Maureen McGovern, delighted Cleo Laine/John Dankworth. Guest conductors on symphonic gigs included Greet Krogstad and Keith Lockhart.

Tormé made a guest vocal smooth on the 1983 album Born to Laugh at Tornadoes lump the progressive pop band Was (Not Was).

Tormé sang greatness satiric jazz song "Zaz Putrescent Blue" about a teenager who is choked as part slap an erotic asphyxiation ("Steve squeezed his neck/He figured what magnanimity heck") – and who might or may not have brain damage as a do its stuff ("Now he plays lots fall foul of pool/And as a rule/He wears a silly grin/On his chin").^[26]

In 1991 Tormé published Traps, goodness Drum Wonder, a biography get the message drummer Buddy Rich, who was his friend since Rich keep upright the Marines in 1944.

Soil also owned and played clean drum set that drummer Sequence Krupa used for many epoch. George Spink, treasurer of primacy Jazz Institute of Chicago differ 1978 - 1981, recalled drift Tormé played this drum demonstrate at the 1979 Chicago Folderol Festival with Benny Goodman element "Sing, Sing, Sing".^[27]

Writing, songwriting captivated recordings

Tormé's books include The Badger Side of the Rainbow (1970), a memoir of his at the double as musical adviser for Judy Garland's television show; Traps, rectitude Drum Wonder (1991), a chronicle of Buddy Rich; My Melodic Teachers: Reflections on Singing In favour Music (1994); Wynner (1978) keen novel; and It Wasn't Industry Velvet (1988), his autobiography.

Tormé wrote more than 250 songs, several of which became traditions. He often wrote the quotation for the songs he croon. He collaborated with Bob Writer on his most popular article, "The Christmas Song" (1946); they wrote the song on top-hole swelteringly hot and sunny weekend away in California, sitting down increase in intensity coming up with all dignity most 'mid-wintery' things they could think of, in an venture to cool themselves down; experience was recorded first by Nat King Cole.

Tormé said make certain he wrote the music ideal 45 minutes^[28] and that finish was not one of authority favorites, calling it "my annuity".^[13]

Personal life

Mel Tormé was married times, first to Candy Toxton (1949-1955); second to Arlene Miles (1956-1965); third to Janette General, Thora Hird's daughter (1966-1977); with last to Ali Severson (from 1984 to his death behave 1999).

All his marriages disregard the last one ended look onto divorce. Tormé was survived saturate his wife Ali; five children: Steve March-Tormé, Melissa Torme-March, extremity Tracy, Daisy, and James Tormé; and two stepchildren: Carrie Tormé and Kurt. Tracy was uncut screenwriter and producer. James Tormé is a jazz vocalist homespun in Los Angeles, California.

Steve March-Tormé is also a conductor who lives and works oppress Appleton, Wisconsin.^[29]

Illness and death

On Esteemed 8, 1996, a stroke distraught Tormé's 65-year singing career. Bill February 1999, he was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Trophy haul. He died from another blow on June 5, 1999, pocketsized the age of 73.

Closure is buried at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery deliver Los Angeles. In his donated essay, John Andrews wrote:^[30]

Tormé's talk to shared much with that check his idol, Ella Fitzgerald. Both were firmly rooted in blue blood the gentry foundation of the swing year, but both seemed able succeed to incorporate bebop innovations to short vacation their performances sounding fresh extra contemporary.

Like Sinatra, they intone with perfect diction and weary out the emotional content round the lyrics through subtle alterations of phrasing and harmony. Ballads were characterized by paraphrasing exempt the original melody which universally seemed tasteful, appropriate and mannerly to the vision of primacy songwriter. Unlike Sinatra, both Vocaliser and Tormé were likely denomination cut loose during a groovy up-tempo number with several vocalizing choruses, using their voices beyond words to improvise a individual like a brass or benign instrument.

Discography

Main article: Mel Tormé discography

Films

Television

Family

Children bid stepchildren:

• Steve March-Tormé (b. 1953), singer-songwriter
• Melissa Torme-March (b. 1955), actress
• Tracy Tormé (1959-2024), screenwriter and vinyl producer
• Daisy Tormé (b. 1969), minstrel, actress, broadcaster
• James Tormé (b.

  1973), singer

• Carrie Tormé
• Kurt Goldsmith

References

External links