Melvin Howard Tormé (September 13, 1925 – June 5, 1999), nicknamed The Velvet Fog (which he disliked, by the way).
Torme was best known as a singer of jazz standards. He was also a jazz composer and arranger, drummer, and actor in radio, film, and television, and the author of five books. He composed the music for the classic holiday song "The Christmas Song" ("Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire") and co-wrote the lyrics with Bob Wells. In 1943, Tormé made his movie debut in Frank Sinatra's first film, the musical Higher and Higher. He went on to sing and act in many films and television episodes throughout his career, even hosting his own television show in the 1950s. Regular viewers of the show Night Court will also remember his appearances there. In 1996, he suffered a stroke that ended his singing career. Mel Torme died from another stroke in 1999, and is buried at Westwood Memorial Park.