Mel Torme

Date of Birth: September 13, 1925

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: June 5, 1999

Biography

Melvin Howard Tormé, commonly known as Mel Tormé, was an American musician, singer, composer, arranger, drummer, actor, and author. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Tormé began his singing career at the tender age of four, performing on radio shows. He was a child actor, and by the age of 16, he had already written his first hit song, “Lament to Love,” for Harry James and his Orchestra. Tormé’s smooth, velvety voice earned him the nickname “The Velvet Fog,” and he became a prominent figure in jazz and pop music from the 1940s through the 1990s. Tormé’s career was marked by his incredible versatility, with significant contributions to music, television, radio, and film. He is perhaps best known for co-writing “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” with Bob Wells, which has become a holiday classic. Over his lengthy career, Tormé released over 50 albums and earned several Grammy Awards. His musical talents extended beyond singing and songwriting, as he was also an accomplished drummer and pianist.

5 Interesting Facts about Mel Torme

1. Mel Tormé was a child prodigy, making his professional debut at the age of four.

2. He co-wrote the iconic holiday song “The Christmas Song” in just 40 minutes during a hot summer day.

3. Tormé was a skilled jazz drummer and played with the Chico Marx Orchestra in the early 1940s.

4. He authored several books, including his autobiography “It Wasn’t All Velvet” and a biography of Buddy Rich titled “Traps, the Drum Wonder.”

5. Tormé was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1999.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Mel Torme

1. “My entire life has been devoted to breaking down barriers, to finding my own path, to doing things differently.”

2. “I always sang standards because the melody and the lyrics were so much better than anything being written today.”

3. “I don’t want to stay on the road too long. I want to be able to live my life.”

4. “I’m a song and dance man. I can act. I can sing. I can dance. But I can’t do any of these things alone.”

5. “The Christmas Song is my best-known work, and I’m proud of it, but there’s so much more to my career.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Mel Tormé’s net worth was estimated to be around $5 million.

Children

Mel Tormé had five children: 1. Tracy Tormé, a screenwriter and producer known for his work on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Sliders.” 2. Steve March-Tormé, a singer and radio host. 3. Melissa Tormé-March, an actress and singer. 4. Daisy Tormé, a singer and voice-over artist. 5. James Tormé, a jazz singer.