Tommy Hunt
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Tommy Hunt is a notable soul/northern soul singer and member of The Flamingos.
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[edit] Early life
Born on the 18th June 1933 to Georgianna Derico, Tommy started his life as Charles James Hunt in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. His school chums, who didn’t think he looked like a Charles, named him Tommy and it has stayed with him throughout his entire life. Music dominated his life and he was sent to reform school after spending his learning hours practicing for and entering talent shows. He was released from reform school when he was 10, and his mother uprooted and moved to Chicago.
[edit] The Flamingos
Tommy formed a group called the Five Echoes after a stint doing National Service in the Air Force and going AWOL, followed by a prison sentence when caught, but he sang his way out of jail and returned to Chicago to rejoin The Echoes. It was whilst performing in a club one night that he was approached by Zeke Carey of The Flamingos to join the group and temporarily take his place whilst he served his time in the Army. Tommy was a great asset to the group and was kept on after the guys returned. The Flamingos moved to New York and started to gain national recognition.
There followed in 1958 their biggest hit ‘I Only Have Eyes For You’ for which the Flamingos are world renowned and it remains their most popular song, being used in movies and on compilation discs to this date.
[edit] Solo career
Tommy left the group in 1960 due to differences, mainly because he was not Jewish as were all the other members with the exception of Nate Nelson. Within 3 days he was approached by Luther Dixon and released ‘Parade Of Broken Hearts’ which was slow to be picked up by the radio stations until one day in New York a deejay by the name of Jocko introduced the song and flipped it by mistake causing the phones to ring off the hook… That song was ‘Human’…Tommy’s biggest hit in the USA.
Tommy became a regular performing at The Apollo in New York alongside all the 60’s greats such as Jackie Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Shirelles, Dionne Warwick, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley & Sam and Dave, but to name a few. To the best of his knowledge Tommy remains the only person to have his photo framed twice in the Apollo foyer, both with the Flamingos and as a solo artist. Several years and a couple of minor hits later Tommy crossed the waters and sang for the U.S. Army in Germany and in 1969 having caught the travel bug left his homeland when the Beatles invaded America and traveled back to Germany, through Belgium and across the Channel to England.
[edit] Northern Soul
After several performances in the Theater Clubs throughout the UK, Tommy sang for the 2nd Anniversary of the Wigan Casino and there followed the ladder of his success on the Northern Soul Scene. Tommy was approached by Russ Winstanly and Mike Walker of Wigan Casino fame and released several hits on Spark, firstly a cover version of a song formerly sung by his idol and biggest influence Roy Hamilton. The song was entitled ‘Crackin’ Up’. Followed by his chart success in 1976 ‘Loving On The Losing Side’. 1982/83 saw him win the Male Vocalist of the Year, presented by the Club Mirror Award.
[edit] Latter Years
With the decline of the Northern Soul Scene, Tommy’s shows dwindled and he hit the cabaret circuit further a field, moving to Amsterdam in 1986 and traveling the world with his cabaret shows. In 1996 the first of his recognitions came in the form of The Rhythm and Blues Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award for the Flamingos contribution to music. In 1997 Tommy moved back to England and embarked on a revived northern soul scene, experiencing all the love and dedication once again from the crowd who had never faltered in their love and appreciation for his music.
In latter years, having turned his hand to song writing, Tommy has penned his Autobiography which he hopes to have published. Tommy still resides in England, and although doesn’t take on the workload he once did, still performs around the world as a special guest with the Flamingos and as a solo artist.
[edit] Awards
The award for the Flamingos from the Vocal Group Hall of Fame came in 2000, followed by the Doo-Wopp Hall of Fame in 2001. The Flamingos were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame of America for their 30 year outstanding contribution to music.
[edit] Discography
The Five Echoes with the Fats Coles Band
Sabre 102 – Lonely Mood / Baby Come Back To Me – 1953 (Black Vinyl) Sabre 102 – Lonely Mood / Baby Come Back To Me – 1953 (Red Vinyl)
The Five Echoes
Sabre 107? - Why Oh Why / That's My Baby - 1954
The Flamingos
Decca 30335 - The Ladder Of Love / Let's Make Up - 1957
Decca 30454 - Helpless / My Faith In You - 1957
Decca 30687 - Where Mary Go / The Rock And Roll March - 1958
End 1035 - Lovers Never Say Goodbye / That Love Is You – 1958
End 1040 - But Not For Me / I Shed A Tear At Your Wedding - 1959
End 1044 - At The Prom / Love Walked In – 1959
End 1045 - I Only Have Eyes For You / At The Prom - 1959
End 1046 - I Only Have Eyes For You / Goodnight Sweetheart – 1959
Decca 30880 - Ever Since I Met Lucky / Kiss-A-Me - 1959
End 1055 - Love Walked In / Yours - 1959
Decca 30948 - Jerri-Lee / Hey Now! - 1959
End 1062 - I Was Such A Fool / Heavenly Angel - 1959
End 1065 - Mi Amore / You, Me And The Sea - 1960
End 1068 - Nobody Loves Me Like You / You, Me And The Sea – 1960
End 1070 - Besame Mucha / You, Me And The Sea – 1960
End 1073 - Mi Amore / At Night – 1960
End 1079 – When I Fall In Love / Beside You – 1960
End 1085 – That’s Why I Love You / Ko Ko Mo – 1960
End 1092 – Time Was / Dream Girl – 1960
End 1099 – My Memories Of You / I Want To Love You - 1960
Tommy Hunt
Scepter 1219 - Human / Parade Of Broken Hearts -1961
Scepter 1226 - The Door Is Open / I'm Wondering - 1962
Scepter 1231 - So Lonely / The Work Song – 1962
Scepter 1235 - Didn’t I Tell You She’ll Hurt You / Poor Millionaire You’re So Fine – 1962
Scepter 1236 - And I Never Knew / I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself - 1962
Scepter 1252 - Do You Really Love Me / Son, My Son - 1963
Scepter 1261 - I Am A Witness* / I'm With You - 1963 *written by Ed Townsend.
Scepter 1275 - It’s All A Bad Dream / You Made A Man Out Of Me – 1964
Atlantic 2278 - I Don’t Want To Lose You / Hold On – 1965
Capitol 5621 - I’ll Make You Happy / The Clown - 1966
Dynamo 101 - The Biggest Man / Never Love A Robin – 1967
Dynamo 105 - Words Can Never Tell It / How Can I Be Anything – 1967
Dynamo 110 - Complete Man / Searchin’ For My Love – 1967
Dynamo 113 - I Need A Woman Of My Own / Searchin’ For My Baby (Lookin’ Everywhere) - 1967
Dynamo 124 - Born Free / Just A Little Taste (Of Your Sweet Lovin’) - 1968
Private Stock 45,115 - Loving On The Losing Side / Sunshine Girl - 1976
Collectables Col 030077 - Oh No Not My Baby / Human* - 1981 *Flip By Tommy Hunt.
Town 103 - The Work Song / Please Stay* - 198? *Flip By The Ivory's
UK Only
Polydor 236 – Mind Body And Soul / One Mountain To Climb – 1972
Top Rank Jar-605 - The Door Is Open / I'm Wondering - 1962
Polydor 236 - Mind Body And Soul / One Mountain To Climb - 1972
Spark 1132 - Crackin' Up / Get Out - 1975
Spark 1146 - Loving On The Losing Side / Sunshine Girl – 1975
Spark 1148 – One Fine Morning /// Sign On The Dotted Line / Loving You - 1976
LPs
Spark SRLP 117 - Live At Wigan Casino - 1976
Tracks: I Can’t Turn You Loose / Get Ready / My Girl / Knock On Wood / Never Can Say Goodbye /// Help Me Make It Through The Night / Crackin’ Up / Baby I Need Your Loving
Spark SRLP 120 – Sign Of The Times – 1976
Tracks: Loving On The Losing Side / Upon My Soul / Get Out / A Miracle Like You / You Got Me Where You Want Me / A Sign Of The Times /// Sign On The Dotted Line / Loving You Is / Crackin’ Up / Help Me Make It Thru’ The Night / Sunshine Girl / Never Can Say Goodbye.
Kent 059 – Your Man - 1986
Tracks: Love / She’ll Hurt You Too / Didn’t I Tell You / This And Only This / It’s All A Bad Dream / I Am A Witness / Make The Night A Little Longer / Oh Lord What Are You Doing To Me /// Human / Your Man / Don’t Make Me Over / The Parade Of Broken Hearts / I Might Like It / You Made A Man Out Of Me / Just A Little Taste Of Your Sweet Lovin’ / Promised Land
[edit] Samples
Human - June 1962, Scepter Records
I only Have Eyes For You - The Flamingos, 1959
[edit] References
- Hunt, Tommy. [1] Unpublished autobiography.
- Rimmer, Dave, Hoffman, Stefan & Asanovic, Bosko. [2] T.Hunt Discography
- Ace Records [3] The Biggest Man.
