I'm not that young, but I only ever knew Mel Torme as a running joke on Night Court...

[sir pball]

This has certainly changed my mind. I'm currently going down a rabbit hole and…holy mother of god, The Velvet Fog indeed…

(and by "not that young" I mean barely GenX, b. 1979)

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. He wrote "The Christmas Song"

You know, “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…”

[BeerBarrelPolka]

2. He started as a drummer

and of course became legendary as a singer.

[chicoescuela]

3. I don't remember why, but the judge played by Harry Anderson loved him.

Maybe Anderson loved him in real life too.

[Wiz Imp]

6. He did. But the shows creator said that turned out to be coincidental, not on purpose.

From Wikipedia:

Anderson was a longtime fan of singer Mel Tormé, and his character Judge Stone on Night Court was also a Tormé fan; the singer appeared on the sitcom six times. Night Court creator Reinhold Weege said that Anderson and his character both being Tormé fans was completely coincidental. Anderson was among those who delivered eulogies at the singer's funeral in 1999.

[chicoescuela]

9. Kind of hard to believe, but ok.

Little known fact, Harry Anderson was the Grand Marshal of the Nevada Day parade one year. I can’t remember the year but probably early 90s and I don’t remember why he was selected .

[John1956PA]

4. His celebrity status was also used as a gag in the Val Kilmer movie "Top Secret" (1984).

https://m.

[musette_sf]

5. He was f'n amazing

Last edited Sun Nov 9, 2025, 09:13 AM - Edit history (1)

and I am thankful to have enjoyed an evening at a show of his in Houston in 1993. I wasn’t dating anyone, and didn’t have any friends who wanted to pony up the dough for a ticket to go with me. Buying a singleton seat can work out very well, since they’re scattered throughout the theater. I got a fourth row center seat, and was transfixed and amazed.

I met my DH the following year, and he too was a Mel fan, so we went to see him at The Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston. Great venue and a great show.

[Norbert]

7. He was a serious actor as well

Aside from his guest starring on Night Court. He acted in some movies in the 50s and early 60s. I may be wrong but most all were B grade movies.

[DavidDvorkin]

10. He played himself in the TV series Sliders

The star was his nephew in real life, I think.

[cachukis]

8. The Velvet Fog.

[Ilsa]

11. I love Mel Torme!

His voice is so lovely. And Ella is the Queen.

The best most recent scatting I heard was the ending of a recording of Pentatonix singing White Christmas in multiple variations. The scatting starts around 2:52:

?si=k9eUXG3xhcE3TWXf

I love the sudden pitch variations.

[appleannie1]

12. That made me wish I could still jitterbug but my 82 yr legs and lungs would think I lost my mind.

[marble falls]

13. The man had some mellow pipes.

[Billsdaughter]

14. My Favorite Mel Torme Hit

I Cover the Waterfront. He contributed so much to the soundtrack of America and particularly to The Greatest Generation.

I heard his son's album of Mel's hits on an NPR segment several years ago and boy he sounds a lot like his dad.