Steve March Tormé

Born to Mel Tormé, Steve March Tormé steered clear of jazz singing for years in order to sidestep his father’s formidable influence, yet he has steadily matured into a capable jazz vocalist. Because his parents divorced when he was two, he never lived with his dad during childhood. At age twelve, hearing pop songs on the radio ignited his desire to become a performer, and the following year he started his own rock band. After attending Santa Monica College for a single semester he left school to accept a recording contract and begin touring. In the late ’70s Tormé cut pop sides, supplied vocals for a Liza Minnelli album, appeared as a television guest, worked as an actor, and hosted music-themed television programs; he also sang with the jazz-oriented vocal group Full Swing. Only in the mid-’90s did he begin presenting jazz in public, highlighted by a duet with his father on “Straighten Up and Fly Right.” Subsequent jazz albums appeared on the Frozen Rope and Rhombus labels, most notably The Essence of Love, where his personal style stood out. Although he has not become a household name, he demonstrates clear promise and earns respect for developing a voice that does not simply echo his celebrated parent.