A Chicago native, Mel Torme (aka "The Velvet Fog") (September 13, 1925 – June 5, 1999) began his show business career singing, dancing and playing drums...at age four.  For the next seven decades his travelled constantly, singing with Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Gordon Jenkins, Claus Ogerman, George Shearing, Rob McConnell & The Boss Brass, Ken Peplowski, and most often with his own trio.  As a composer, his most famous collaboration (with Bob Wells) is "The Christmas Song".