Mel Torme on his amazing career! 

One of my favorite people: Mel Torme, "The Velvet Fog" (which he hates). At age 63 in 1988, he is still going strong and talks about his childhood, Chicago radio, his romantic life, his parents, and so much more.
Mel's books include The Other Side of the Rainbow (1970), a memoir of his time as musical adviser for Judy Garland's television show; Traps, the Drum Wonder (1991), a biography of Buddy Rich; My Singing Teachers: Reflections on Singing Popular Music (1994); Wynner (1978) a novel; and It Wasn't All Velvet (1988), his autobiography.
Tormé wrote more than 250 songs, several of which became standards. He often wrote the arrangements for the songs he sang. He collaborated with Bob Wells on his most popular composition, "The Christmas Song" (1946), which was recorded first by Nat King Cole. Tormé said that he wrote the music in 45 minutes, and that it was not one of his favorites, calling it "my annuity". He died in 1999 at the young age of 73, after his second stroke.