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The Mel-Tones was an American vocal group of the 1940s and 1950s, formed and led by Mel Tormé. They are sometimes credited as The Meltones.

The Mel-Tones appeared on several radio programs and released several records on their own, and also as the vocalists on some of Artie Shaw's records.[1]

Besides Tormé, the members were Betty Beveridge, Ginny O'Connor (who married Henry Mancini in 1947),[2] Bernie Parke, and Diz Disruhd (later replaced by Les Baxter). Tormé (still a teenager when he formed the group, in 1943)[3] was lead singer and arranger.[1] The group disbanded in 1945[1] or 1946,[4] but Tormé reformed them from time to time for special projects.[4] A 1957 release of Tormé's California Suite featured the Mel-Tones, with Loulie Jean Norman replacing Betty Beveridge.[5] The Mel-Tones last album, Back in Town, was recorded in 1959 and released in 1960; personnel at that time was original members Ginny O'Connor and Bernie Parke, and Sue Allen and Tom Kenny.[4]

Selected discography

Singles

• "It Happened In Monterrey" / "Born To Be Blue" – Mel Tormé And His Mel-Tones, with Sonny Burke And His Orchestra (1946, Musicraft)[1]
• "Try A Little Tenderness" / "Willow Road" – Mel Tormé And His The Mel-Tones [sic] (1946, Musicraft)[1]
• "I Got The Sun In The Morning" / "Along With Me" – Artie Shaw And His Orchestra, vocal by Mel Tormé and The Meltones[sic] (1946, Musicraft)[1]
• "South America, Take It Away" / "Try A Little Tenderness" – Mel Tormé And His Mel-Tones, with Sonny Burke And His Orchestra (Musicraft, 1946)[1]
• "Don't You Believe It Dear" (B-side of "Connecticut", which has vocals by Ralph Blane) – Artie Shaw and His Orchestra Featuring Mel Tormé and His Mel-Tones (Musicraft, 1946)[1]
• "Don't Do Something to Someone Else (That You Wouldn't Want Done to You)" (B-side of "The Blossoms On The Boug", which has vocals credited to Mel Tormé alone) – Mel Tormé And His Mel-Tones, with Frank De Vol and His Orchestra (Capitol, date unknown)[1]

EPs

• Love For Sale – Artie Shaw and His Orchestra Also Featuring Mel Tormé and His Meltones (1965, A.R.C. Records)[1]

Albums

• Artie Shaw and His Orchestra Featuring Mel Tormé and the Meltones (Society #SOC 983)[1]
• Back In Town – Mel Tormé and the Meltones (1960, His Master's Voice #CLP 1382 (UK); 1960, Verve #MG VS 6063, #MVS 2675 (US))[1]
• Artie Shaw and His Orchestra Also Featuring Mel Tormé and the Meltones (1965, Presto #PRE 681)[1]
• Mel Tormé and the Meltones with Artie Shaw and His Orchestra (1965, Presto #PRE 685)[1]
• Mel Tormé with the Meltones and Artie Shaw (1976, Everest Records Archive Of Folk & Jazz Music #FS 324)[1]
• It Happened In Monterrey – Mel Tormé and the Mel-Tones with Sonny Burke & His Orchestra (1982, Musicraft #MVS-510)[1]
• Mel Tormé Sings His California Suite – Mel Tormé with His Mel-Tones and Chorus Orchestra conducted by Harold Mooney (1984, Discovery #DS-910)[1]
• Mel Tormé Live with the Mel-Tones, Volume One[3]
• Mel Tormé Live with the Mel-Tones, Volume Two (1987, Sounds Great #SG-5012)[1]
• Velvet Moods – Mel Tormé, the Mel-Tones (Él #ACMEM90CD)[1]
• That's Where I Came In – Mel Tormé and the Mel-Tones (2006, GVC)[6]

References

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