In 1979, Brian Torff joined in a duo with pianist George Shearing. In the course of their three-and-a-half year collaboration, they toured throughout the U.S., Europe, Brazil, and South Africa and were featured on "The Tonight Show", "The Merv Griffin Show", and their own PBS special from the Cafe Carlyle in New York City. They received worldwide acclaim and were invited to perform at the White House in 1982 for President Ronald Reagan. Their third album won a Grammy Award for vocalist Mel Tormé.