Music Memory Monday

Jazz legend Mel Torme’ passed away on this day in 1999. He began performing when he was just 14 years old. While he had some success with his group, The Mel-Tones, and some solo work in the 50’s and 60’s, it wasn’t until late in his life that his career really soared.

He was introduced to young audiences when he appeared as himself on Night Court. In interviews he said people would go see him perform because they wanted to know what Harry Anderson’s character found so amazing about him.

I was lucky enough to see him perform once in the early 1990’s. He was touring with Doc Severinsen and the Tonight Show Band. It remains, hands down, the best concert I have ever attended. He blew me away!

He came on stage and I was immediately caught up in his presence. He literally grabbed the audience and kept us mesmerized by his singing, his scatting, and his banter. When Doc’s band joined him toward the end of the show, he got up on the drums and played Sing, Sing, Sing. He was phenomenal!!

There is one song that I absolutely love by him. I suppose it would be one of the many that belong in the “Great American Songbook.” It is called More Than You Know. There are live versions by him that are just captivating, but I will share the studio version, which is just as beautiful.

Thanks for your music, Mel, and thanks for a performance that I will never forget!

More Than You Know

Whether you are here or yonder
Whether you are false or true
Whether you remain or wander
I’m growing fonder of you

Even though your friends forsake you
Even though you don’t succeed
Wouldn’t I be glad to take you
And give you the break you need

More than you know, more than you know
Girl of my heart I love you so
Lately I find you’re on my mind
More than you know

Whether you’re right, whether you’re wrong
Girl of my heart, I’ll string along
I need you so
More than you’ll ever know

Loving you the way that I do
There’s nothing I can do about it
Loving may be all you can give
But, honey, I can’t live without it

Oh, how I’d cry, oh how I’d cry
If you got tired and said Goodbye
More than I’d show
More than you’ll ever know

More than you’ll ever know