In the 1970s, Mell_ moved to Los Angeles to compose scores for film and television, including the 1971 movie The Andromeda Strain. Throughout his career, he was also devoted to visual art; his works appeared on his own album covers as well as covers for Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, and Sonny Rollins.
"Gil Mell_ was a true Renaissance man," Blue Note president Bruce Lundvall said. "A multi-talented artist."