But mel torme waited until 1969 after judy garland was dead to publish this book. I never wrote arrangements for the band for judy garland. The other side of the rainbow with judy garland on the dawn patrol by mel torme is an account of his time as composer and musical adviser on the 1963 television series the judy garland show. Jul 24, 1992 mel torme on three judy garland musicals. One thing i love to do at the holidays is watch tv variety specialsand the 1963 christmas show of the shortlived the judy garland show is one of my favorites. As a teenager, he played the drums in chico marxs band and earned the nickname the velvet fog because of his smooth, mellow tenor voice. The girl with the keanepainting eyes and a million dollar throb in her throat frustrating, inspiring, devious, prankloving, calculating and also a a handful with a snootful judy garland is remembered warmly schmaltzily by mel torme the singer who was asked to handle her material for the judy garland show in 1963 taped over five long and uncertain months. In his memoir about the judy garland show, torme reveals some of his insecurities about his masculinity. This book is essentially a filmography interlaced with a complex biographical account of marilyn monroes.
A professional singer at the age of three, mel torme was a genuine musical prodigy. The other side of the rainbow with judy garland on the. The judy garland show, which aired sunday nights at. Mel torme covers his time working on the judy garland show. I love it, it has fabulous recordings with her with mel torme, bobby darin, barbra streisand and the second part of the. The first of these was brad steigers judy garland, published shortly after her death, which includes information on garland s astrological chart, analysis of her handwriting, numerology and biorhythms.
Torme was active in show business from 19291996 and appeared on many tv variety shows, including the judy garland show that ran one season on cbs from 19631964, sundays at 8pm. Other side rainbow judy garland dawn patrol abebooks. Behind the scenes on the judy garland television series. A few years later, after garlands death, his time with her show became the subject of his first book, the other side of the rainbow with judy garland on the dawn patrol 1970. He also acted in films and wrote several books, including biographies of judy garland and buddy rich. Torme has stood out in many films, the best perhaps being the college musical good news, and his affairs include one with ava gardner, a rich friendship with marilyn monroe, a hilarious friendship with supreme egoist buddy rich, friendships with sinatra, bing crosby, garland, jerry lewis, and many others. Mel torme, in his 1970 memoir about working on the judy garland show for cbs. Mel torme, the fluent popjazz singer who earned the nickname the velvet fog for his smooth, soft vocal timbre, died yesterday of complications from a stroke he suffered in 1996. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. Mel torme page in fuller up, the dead musicians directory.
American musical icon mel torme recounts his experiences working with garland on her shortlived television variety show, the judy garland show, and explains how even judy s undeniably large talents couldnt save a show that was plagued from the start. Perhaps the darkest dig at the gaygarland connection came from mel torme, in his 1970 memoir about working on the. In the other side of the rainbownow reissued with a new prefacemel torme takes us on a hollywood rollercoaster ride through the triumphs and disasters of this shortlived show, at the same time revealing a personal side of judy garland rarely glimpsed. In this book the singer composer mel torment had a front row seat in telling the story of what makes judy garland tick. If you want to know what really happened with the judy garland show, read rainbows end by coyne steven sanders. That said, this book is a journal of what a nightmare it can be like dealing with what the french correctly call a sacred monster. Once in a while, when i was working with judy garland on her 60s tv variety series, we would sit at the piano together after a days shooting. Mel torme was a jazzoriented pop singer who worked at his craft steadily from the 40s to the 90s, primarily in nightclubs and concert halls. The judy garland show 160 the meltones soundies 163 part 5. He was hired as a musical advisor for the judy garland show, a calamity he chronicled in his first nonfiction book, the other side of the rainbow with judy.
It should be noted that judy garland often truthfully quipped. As a solo musician, he had a number one hit in 1949 called careless hands and several lesser hits. Mel torme and judy garland sing the christmas song. Youtube its a fascinating view of garland as a performer, under tremendous pressure and medication to do well as her movie career had ultimately dried up at this point. Jan 01, 1971 torme focuses almost exclusively on garland s short lived television variety show the judy garland show. Dec 02, 2019 torme was active in show business from 19291996 and appeared on many tv variety shows, including the judy garland show that ran one season on cbs from 19631964, sundays at 8pm. Torme focuses almost exclusively on garland s short lived television variety show the judy garland show. The other side of the rainbow she blogged by night.
The alleged events described by this book occurred in 196364. Once a gay icon, judy garland has become an embarrassment. Quotations by mel torme, american musician, born september, 1925. As a drummer, singer, composer, arranger, lyricist, writer and actor, his career spanned nearly the entire 20th century. In the 1940s, he formed his own group, the mel tones, one of the first jazzinfluenced vocal groups. Mel and judy performed this duet on the judy garland show in december, 1963. Their star client was judy garland who, being garland, was simultaneously the most gifted person in show business and the client from hell. Behind the scenes on the judy garland television series mel torme on. Judy garland and mel torme collaborate on the trolley song. In 1963 torme was asked to work on judy garlands television series, writing special material, selecting songs and occasionally performing. Singer mel torme worked for garland as a composer and music arranger on that show.
Christmas garland lost tape of 1963 holiday special takes. Buddy rich mel torme merv griffin show rare amazing scat and drum solo 1979. A few years later, after garland s death, his time with her show became the subject of his first book, the other side of the rainbow with judy garland on the dawn patrol 1970. Find the other side of the rainbow with judy garland on the dawn patrol by torme, mel at biblio. Biographers who have written very slanted books about garland and her family. She is one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century. Mel torme and judy garland sing a wonderful rendition of the christmas song. Judy garland on her television shows in the 1960s, a novel, wynner 1978, and an autobiography, it wasnt all velvet, published in 1988. A time magazine article had previously shown him seated on a motorbike and captioned the photo with he was frighteningly manly. He would later write about their relationship in a book that was eventually published in 2017. In 1970, he wrote a book, the other side of the rainbow with judy garland on. Torme, mel, 1970, the other side of the rainbow with judy garland on the dawn patrol, new york. Perhaps the darkest dig at the gay garland connection came from mel torme, in his 1970 memoir about working on the. Mel torme offers a selfserving view of what was going on with the power.
Judy garland has been the subject of many biographies. In 196364, torme wrote songs and musical arrangements for the the judy garland show, and made two guest appearances on the show itself. Dec 03, 20 music is inextricably intertwined with christmas. Mel tormes book is a knowledge able and lucid tribute to its subject in the spirit if not in the scope. In the 1940s, he formed his own group, the meltones, one of the first jazzinfluenced vocal groups.
American musical icon mel torme recounts his experiences working with garland on her shortlived television variety show, the judy garland. John meyer, who said he had a twomonth affair with her. The book, published just one year after garlands death, has become. This is how i recommend you start your day fresh squeezed orange juice and then the phone rings and oh yes coffee and an amiable chat with you, mon amie and sister sweet who loves this song from the 1940s sung by judy garland and mel torme who was music director of the judy garland show on cbs in 1963 and later wrote a tellall book about what it was like the other side of the rainbow about. A fascinating book covering a topic and people that i didnt know much about when i started it. Oct 21, 2019 he would later write about their relationship in a book that was eventually published in 2017.
Torme became musical adviser and arranger for the judy garland. Coulson, joan, 2014, always for judy, witness to the joy and genius of judy garland, california. The other side of the rainbow with judy garland on the dawn patrol by torme, mel condition. Garland but is a man who was asked to work along side of her. With judy garland on the dawn patrol torme, mel on. The garland book, with its portrait of the troubled singer, won critical praise but earned the wrath of her family, who unsuccessfully sued mr.
Great song by a jazz cat who thought rock and roll was three chord manure. The judy garland show by coyne steven sanders and mel tormes the. In his 1988 autobiography, it wasnt all velvet its title a reference to his nickname, the velvet fog, bestowed upon him by a disc jockey in the 40s to describe his husky, wideranging voice, he mentioned a wish that he had been born ten years. The book, published just one year after garland s death, has become rather infamous for its catty tone and inaccurate portrayal of the show and the star. Since her death in 1969, she has been the subject of over two dozen books. If you havent seen it recently, you should make the excuse to enjoy it again. Torme focuses almost exclusively on garlands short lived television variety show the judy garland show. The other side of the rainbow with judy garland on the dawn patrol by mel torme and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. A few years later, after garlands death, his time with her show became the subject of his first book, the other side of the rainbow. The other side of the rainbow with judy garland on the dawn. Oct 22, 20 truly a yuletide classic, written by mel torme music and bob wells lyrics, and performed here on the judy garland show aired dec.
Amazingly, mel wrote this classic carol at the age of 19. In 19631964, torme wrote songs and arrangements for the judy garland show, where he made three guest appearances. Jun 06, 1999 mel torme, the fluent popjazz singer who earned the nickname the velvet fog for his smooth, soft vocal timbre, died yesterday of complications from a stroke he suffered in 1996. This is a man who has no history so to speak with ms. Phillips soon found herself stuck with a sisyphean task.
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