Torme Leaps, Bounds Into MTV Age : Singer, 70, Credits Commercial Stunts, TV Appearances for Growing Popularity With Young

You might say that Mel Torme just fell into his new role as a hero of Generation X.

Like Tony Bennett before him, Torme has developed a new audience among the MTV generation, in part from his appearances on the music video channel.

The biggest attention grabber, however, has been a soda-pop commercial in which Torme, singing a slight variation on the Cole Porter hit “I Get a Kick Out of You,” takes a daredevil dive from the roof of a Las Vegas hotel.

The 70-year-old vocalist didn’t actually do his own stunt--did he?

Well, yes and no, said Torme (who appears tonight and Saturday at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts) by phone from his home in Beverly Hills. “I did a jump of 30 feet,” he said, “but not that big fall of 100 feet. I’m a little long in the tooth for that kind of thing.

“But 30 feet, that’s a hell of a jump if you can imagine it. I had to do it three times, and the first time my heart was in my mouth. I jumped into a huge air bag. By the third time, I was starting to have fun doing it.”

While the stunt leaves the young, grunge thrill-seekers in the ad appearing duly impressed, it’s Torme’s singing that’s left the most lasting impression on the Pearl Jam generation.

After appearances last year on MTV’s “Malibu Beach House” and the station’s morning show, “Rude Awakening,” Torme has struck a chord with those who embrace Green Day, Alanis Morissette or Hole.

“I played Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival [last September],” Torme said, “and when I found out I was on the same bill as Mudhoney and the Ramones, I told my manager I was bringing a .45 [pistol] to his office the next time I saw him.

“I went to that show with a lot of trepidation: ‘What am I doing this for?’ But I was wrong about it. It turned out to be a marvelous thing. I was just dazed when I came off stage. It was one of the most illuminating shows of my life.”

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In fact, Torme got eight curtain calls. He cites a growing interest among young listeners in classic American popular music--what he and Bennett have based their careers on--as one of the reasons he’s gone over so well.

“I think these kids are very open-minded. As time progresses, they need something more challenging than the usual three-chord pop song. But just because they embrace me, doesn’t mean they’re turning away from rock ‘n’ roll.”

Torme says he didn’t consciously set out to win over a younger audience.

“The appearances on MTV certainly helped, and of course they know me from ‘Night Court,’ ” he said, referring to the long-running NBC situation comedy starring Torme’s buddy Harry Anderson, for whom the singer made a number of guest appearances. “And the Mountain Dew ad.”

Torme said he hasn’t changed his act or embraced rock in pursuit of this new audience. “When I work, I do my regular repertoire. I don’t pander to the kids by doing rock tunes. That would be foolish.”

The enlivened interest in Torme has also helped sales of his latest album, “Velvet and Brass,” which features the vocalist covering classic American popular songs with backing from Rob McConnell’s Boss Brass. The collection, with contributions from Porter, the Gershwins and other great composers, almost seems designed as a primer on this music.

“The album was originally going to be called ‘Mel Torme Sings the Great Composers.’ If you look at it, we’ve included one song from all the great writers,” he said. “It’s very much like a textbook.”

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Torme’s association with MTV continues into the summer, when the network plans to release its first feature film, “Joe’s Apartment,” for which Torme will sing the title tune. He’s also looking forward to an appearance at Carnegie Hall later this year with several renowned jazz musicians, including pianist Hank Jones.

“We’ll be doing numbers like ‘Moanin’ ’ and ‘Walkin’ ’--all jazz oriented with marvelous musicians.” In the meantime, he’s also making slow progress on another crime novel (his second), which will be published under an assumed name.

Just for the record, Torme says he has no plans for future stuntman work.

* Mel Torme and his trio will appear tonight and Saturday at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. 8 p.m. $25-$40. (800) 300-4345.