Tommy Hunt

Tommy Hunt 2002

Tommy Hunt (born June 18, 1933 in Pittsburgh ) is a rhythm and blues singer who was best known as a member of the Flamingos .

Biographical

In 1953, Charles James Hunt, called Tommy since his school days, was a founding member of the Five Echoes and joined the Flamingos in late 1956. In 1959 he was involved in I Only Have Eyes For You , the Flamingos' biggest hit, and starred with them in the Alan Freed film Go, Johnny, Go . In 1960 Hunt left the band due to personal differences and began a solo career.

Tommy Hunt, 1962

In the same year he got a recording contract with Florence Greenberg's Scepter Records and recorded the single Human , which reached number 5 on the R&B charts at the end of the year. In late 1962, Hunt's debut album I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself was released , the title track of which later made Dusty Springfield a hit.

During the 1960s Hunt appeared in New York clubs and played with Jackie Wilson , Marvin Gaye , Ray Charles , Diana Ross and the Supremes, Chuck Berry and Sam and Dave , among others . In late 1969 Hunt sang for the US Army in Germany and soon after settled in England. The gradual disappearance of the soul scene in the early 1980s also decimated Hunt's appearances considerably. He moved to Amsterdam to work with various cabaret ensembles. In 1997 Hunt went back to England and worked on his comeback as a soul and rhythm & blues singer.

Tommy Hunt performed in Germany for the first time in September 2010 as part of a Northern Soul Special in Hamburg. Since then he can be seen more and more live in Europe (mainly England). Tommy Hunt's autobiography "Only Human" was published in 2008.

Web links

• Tommy Hunt