Mel Torme: A Singer "Too Little Known And Vastly Under-Appreciated"

Scott Johnson, my kindred spirit when it comes to music history, posted a belated birthday tribute to Mel Torme on Powerline a few years ago. He rightfully described Torme as "one of the great all-time American artists, too little known and vastly under-appreciated." A few of the songs he mentions may not load correctly but you can hear them by going directly to You Tube. Many readers may not know the artist - he passed away in 1999 - but they would certainly recognize one of his most famous compositions, The Christmas Song, from its opening line, "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...." That song is one of around 300 Torme wrote but in addition to his singing he also contributed to the world of entertainment as a composer, arranger, musician, actor and writer over his 65 year career.

Although I've had a life-long interest in popular music and jazz I never much listened to Torme until his death. After hearing so much praise for him in remembrances from the industry, I began listening more carefully to his performances and soon developed an appreciation of his crisp timing, perfect pitch, impeccable diction, and playfulness. Here's a fine example of the master at work with his idol, Ella Fitzgerald, in an unforgettable moment in jazz performance.

And just in case you want to associate "The Velvet Fog" with his signature song - he called it his "annuity" - here is Torme performing it late in his career.

There's no question that Mel Torme, one of he earliest singers of what the music industry would know as "cool jazz", left quite a mark on the world of entertainment. For that we're pleased to remember him on his birthday, September 13, 1925. What memories we have of the man and his music.