Tormé is Back in Town

Melvin Howard Tormé was born in Chicago, Illinois in mid-September of 1925. Eighteen years later he made he big screen debut with Frank Sinatra in the 1943 film, Higher and Higher. One year later, he was cutting his first records and with no formal musical training, Tormé had launched his career. Wall Street Journal critic Terry Teachout explains, "The young Tormé sang with open, rounded vowels, a smoothly floating legato, a precisely controlled vibrato, and diction that was clear and expressive without shading into fussiness...No one, not even Frank Sinatra himself, ever sang America’s great popular songs more beautifully."

Undeniably, Torme's early recordings are integral pieces of the great American songbook. In 1955, Mel Tormé collaborated with friend/pianist/arranger Marty Paich to release the now classic Lulu's Back In Town (originally released with the title: Mel Torme and the Marty Paich Dek-tette). The uptempo album is full of unique tunes which soon became classic tracks: "Lullaby of Birdland", "Fascinating Rhythm" and "The Lady is a Tramp". The album presents Tormé at his absolute best, in good voice with a great band (including: Don Fagerquist, trumpet; Red Mitchell, bass; Marty Paich, piano) showcasing what was to become, timeless material. 

Listen this week to The Jonathan Channel and complete your Songbook education. We'll play a different cut every hour on the hour - stay tuned to hear the album in its entirety.