Trivia

Composed the music and words to "The Christmas Song" ("Chestnuts roasting on an open fire") with songwriting partner Robert Wells (Bob Wells).

Is often referred to by Harry Anderson's character "Judge Harry Stone" in the NBC TV series Night Court (1984). Anderson--both as "Judge Stone' and in real life--is a big fan of Torme.

He was drafted into the army in 1944, but soon after when he went on bivouac, cuts were discovered in the soles of his feet and it was determined that he was so flat-footed he should never have been drafted in the first place. He was sent home from the army in 1945.

Nicknamed The Velvet Fog, a nickname he was not particularly fond of.

He had a massive personal collection of 16mm movies from the golden age of Hollywood. He enjoyed threading his movie projector and showing his collection of films to family and friends in his home. His movie collection, which consisted of hundreds of films, was totally destroyed in a fire which totally destroyed his home.

Frustrated by his experiences as the music director of Judy Garland's short-lived CBS variety series, he wrote a vicious tell-all book about his talented but challenging former boss. "The Other Side of the Rainbow: With Judy Garland on the Dawn Patrol" portrayed Garland as hopelessly drug-addicted, unprofessional and a horror to work with.

At age eight he was a snare drummer in the Shakespeare Grammar School drum and bugle corps on Chicago's south side.

He won Best Jazz Vocalist Grammy Awards in 1982 and 1983.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1541 Vine St.

Suffered a stroke on August 8, 1996.

He had three sons, Steve March, Tracy Tormé, and James Tormé, and two daughters, Melissa Torme-March and Daisy Tormé. He had two stepchildren, Carrie and Kurt.

Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1990.

Known for "scatting" during a song.

Wrote a biography of renown jazz drummer Buddy Rich: 'Traps, the Drum Wonder: The Life of Buddy Rich'.

He played a version of himself from a parallel universe who was a country-western singer in Greatfellas (1996). His son Tracy Tormé was the co-creator of Sliders (1995).

Was a major collector of firearms.

Interred in a grave close to Heather O'Rourke and Truman Capote.

Former son-in-law of British actress Thora Hird.

Singer of "Lili Marlene" in USA.

Jazz singer