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Mel Tormé

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Melvin Howard Tormé (1925–1999) was born to immigrant Russian Jewish parents whose name had been Torma. A child prodigy, he first sang professionally at 4 with the Coon-Sanders Orchestra, singing “You’re Driving Me Crazy,” at Chicago’s Blackhawk restaurant. 1933-41, he acted in the network radio serials “The Romance of Helen Trent” and “Jack Armstrong, the All-American Boy. ” He wrote his first song at 13 and three years later, his first published song, “Lament to Love,” became a hit recording for Harry James. He played drums in Chicago’s Shakespeare Elementary School drum and bugle corps in his early teens. While a teen-ager, he sang, arranged, and played drums in a band led by Chico Marx of the Marx Brothers. His formal education ended in 1944, with his graduation from Chicago’s Hyde Park High School.

In 1943, Torme made his movie debut in Frank Sinatra’s first film, the musical “Higher and Higher.” He went on to sing and act in a number of films and television episodes throughout his career, even hosting his own television show in 1951-52. His appearance in the 1947 film musical “Good News” made him a teen idol for a few years. In the last years of his career he toured and sang with the wonderful George Shearing Quartet, often sitting in at drums, for a number or two in a set. To hear two such accomplished jazz artists was an evening not to be forgotten.

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jazz, swing, vocal jazz, male vocalists, jazz vocal
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Top Tracks

1	Comin' Home Baby full track	637
2	Happy Together full track	633
3	Blue Moon full track	580
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6	Right Now	380
7	Careless Hands full track	276
8	Strangers in the Night full track	235
9	Lullaby Of Birdland full track	217
10	Secret Agent Man	96
11	Too Darn Hot	94
12	The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) full track	85
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14	Heart and Soul full track	82
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BluesRok wrote:
yesterday morning

The Movie Group has the most active discussion threads on lastfm! Stop by and see why our members love the group!

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truerock74 wrote:
August 2009

P.S. The most famous version of "The Christmas Song" was, indeed, sung by Nat King Cole . . . but Tormé was a co-writer of the song.

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truerock74 wrote:
August 2009

I saw a Shearing/Tormé concert back in the day . . . it was absolutely amazing. One of the amazing memories of my childhood.

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pytoms wrote:
July 2009

yeahyea

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Christien67 wrote:
May 2009

very beautiful, it should be rate

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Eclectic-G wrote:
May 2009

Mel's great!

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Marjo47 wrote:
May 2009

Comin home is just the BEST.

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mleliza wrote:
May 2009

It always sounds like he's saying "Secret ASIAN Man." LOL.

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Chacandra wrote:
March 2009

beautiful .

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JonnyBluMusic wrote:
March 2009

Diggin' it! ;) Cheers! Jonny www.jonnyblumusic.com

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mongozo wrote:
January 2009

lovely to listen to on a lazy sunday afternoon

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Taintbad wrote:
January 2009

Who knew Mel could be so blisteringly coool!

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BurningMandala wrote:
January 2009

Ghod, what a voice. Gives me shivers.

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Gelang wrote:
December 2008

This "Christmas Song", I believe, is sung by Nat King Cole, not Mel Torme

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daspapierhaus wrote:
December 2008

cool

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daslava wrote:
November 2008

The perfection in person

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Antill_Music wrote:
October 2008

I've added him to the playlist Top most Unique Singing Voices ever. Any suggestions for tracks that belong in this playlist?!? Cheers, Antill

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Angustcat wrote:
October 2008

Mel Torme was a fucking genius. He was the greatest singer ever- he made anything he sang sound fantastic, even "Secret Agent Man" and "Sunshine Superman". If that wasn't enough, he was also a stunning live performer, a marvellous songwriter (he wrote "The Christmas Song") a fine drummer, and a terrific prose writer.

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d245470k wrote:
September 2008

This guy is sadly under-rated and too often over looked. It wasn't for nothing, Mel. You were fantastic....

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Eclectic-G wrote:
November 2007

The Velvet Fog.

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Recent Activity

MikeandPat, Indiana_Randy, kinkyyafro and 4 other people added Mel Tormé to their libraries. 13 hours ago
Aneitte tagged Mel Tormé with vocal jazz, swing and jazz. Saturday morning
X-modem tagged Mel Tormé with ‘crooner’. Friday evening
inezconte, Dpendragon, Dhayn-Anton and 44 other people added Mel Tormé to their libraries. Friday morning
Philippe3000 tagged Mel Tormé with ‘jazz artists’. last month
Philippe3000, kathie971, blackforest78 and 5 other people added Mel Tormé to their libraries. last month
Zmaiche tagged Mel Tormé with ‘moonbeams’. last month
rjaym, annawesson and 4 other people added Mel Tormé to their libraries. last month
Cwcafe tagged Mel Tormé with jazz cwcafe and elvis y cia cwcafe. last month
MystiqMaiden, leroymock, thetreerules and 19 other people added Mel Tormé to their libraries. last month