Melvin Howard Tormé (September 13, 1925 – June 5, 1999), nicknamed
The Velvet Fog, was an American musician, best known as a singer of
jazz standards. He was also a jazz
composer and
arranger, drummer, and
actor in radio, film, and television, and the author of five books. He composed the music for the classic holiday song "
The Christmas Song" ("Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire") and co-wrote the lyrics with
Bob Wells.