Actor, composer and multi-instrumentalist, Torme was the most jazz influenced of the crooners who established themselves in the late forties at the close of the big-band era. Originally known as ‘The Velvet Fog’ for his smooth, mellow voice, he gained a new reputation in the late fifties and sixties with a far more fluid, rhythmic cool style, even scoring a pop hit with ‘Comin Home Baby’. After acting in radio soap operas in his teens, Torme joined the band led by Chico Marx (of the Marx Brothers)  as  vocalist and in  1943  made his film  debut in  Higher and Higher.

   He then formed the vocal group the Mel-Tones which  recorded with Artie Shaw and Bing Crosby. During this period, Torme also had success as a songwriter, most notably with ‘The Christmas Song’, first recorded by Nat ‘King’ Cole in 1946.  In 1947 he joined Capitol as a solo artist, scoring his first No.1 with ‘Careless Love’ and regularly partnering with Peggy Lee on record. In 1954 he recorded a live album, Mel Torini at the Crescendo which gave him a surprise British hit with his slick, speeded-up jazz version of Rodgers’ and Hart’s ‘Mountain Greenery’.
   Generally more successful in live performance than on record, where his cool style sometimes seemed mannered, Torme had a surprise pop hit in 1962 with his Atlantic recording ‘Comin’ Home Baby’. He later recorded for several labels, mixing contemporary songs and collaborations with George Shearing and Buddy Rich.