In an autobiography filled with astonishing stories, the one coming to mind first is how Mel Tormé dated Ava Gardner while still living with his parents. On their first date she drove him from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara and back for dinner at speeds exceeding the tempos included in some of the music here, over 90 miles an hour.

Torme's account of his first dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Dorsey is pretty unforgettable, too.

A friend who used to sell my more meditative albums was Mel Torme's caretaker and was devastated when he left us.

These are several favorite Tormé performances I've come across to date, including some joined by Buddy Rich and George Shearing.

Love For Sale is followed by Green Dolphin Street, the lyrics of which include "nights beyond forgetting."

- Michael Robinson Longhi, September 2020, Los Angeles

© 2020 Michael Robinson All rights reserved

Michael Robinson Longhi is a Los Angeles-based composer, pianist, and musicologist. His over 200 albums include over 150 albums for meruvina and over 50 albums of piano improvisations. He has performed and lectured at various American churches, universities, colleges, NPR, Pacifica, college, and community radio stations, high schools, elementary schools and community centers including all over the world online.