Tommy Hunter
Encyclopedia
Thomas James "Tommy" Hunter, CM
, O.Ont
(born March 20, 1937 in London
, Ontario
) is a Canadian
country music
performer, known as "Canada's Country Gentleman".
on the CBC
television show, Country Hoedown. The Tommy Hunter Show began as a CBC radio program in 1960 and went on to replace Country Hoedown on CBC television in 1965; Hunter's show was picked up by TNN
in 1983 and ran on CBC until 1992. The book Cue the Elephant by Knowlton Nash
(1996, McClelland & Stewart) featured some disparaging remarks from the show's make-up artist. "He could sell himself terrifically but there was no love lost between Tommy and the crew. Some of the guys loathed him ... Everybody made snide remarks behind Tommy's back ... people might say he was the biggest jerk in the world. But that was not my experience. For me, I saw a very easy down-to-earth manner. But Tommy does generate anti as well as pro feelings from people ... he didn't trust people around him, he became a monster to some."
People who performed on The Tommy Hunter Show early in their careers include:
After his show was cancelled by the CBC, Hunter continued to tour with his band, The Travelling Men. He has announced his intention to retire after a final tour in 2011.
in 1984. In 1986, Hunter was made a Member of the Order of Canada
. He has received three Canadian Juno Award
s and one Gemini Award
. In 1990, he was given a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame's "Walkway of Stars". A street ("Tommy Hunter Way") was also renamed in his honour in his hometown of London, Ontario, in the late 1990s. He became a member of the Order of Ontario
in 1996. In 2005 he was honored with a GMA Canada Lifetime Achievement Award
. The award is handed out annually by the Gospel Music Association of Canada
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, O.Ont
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
(born March 20, 1937 in London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
performer, known as "Canada's Country Gentleman".
Career
In 1956, he began performing as a rhythm guitaristGuitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
on the CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
television show, Country Hoedown. The Tommy Hunter Show began as a CBC radio program in 1960 and went on to replace Country Hoedown on CBC television in 1965; Hunter's show was picked up by TNN
The Nashville Network
The Nashville Network, usually referred to as TNN, was an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming included music videos, taped concerts, movies, syndicated programs, and numerous talk shows...
in 1983 and ran on CBC until 1992. The book Cue the Elephant by Knowlton Nash
Knowlton Nash
Cyril Knowlton Nash, OC, O.Ont , commonly known as Knowlton Nash, is a journalist, author, and former long-serving senior anchorman of CBC Television's flagship news program, The National...
(1996, McClelland & Stewart) featured some disparaging remarks from the show's make-up artist. "He could sell himself terrifically but there was no love lost between Tommy and the crew. Some of the guys loathed him ... Everybody made snide remarks behind Tommy's back ... people might say he was the biggest jerk in the world. But that was not my experience. For me, I saw a very easy down-to-earth manner. But Tommy does generate anti as well as pro feelings from people ... he didn't trust people around him, he became a monster to some."
People who performed on The Tommy Hunter Show early in their careers include:
- Garth BrooksGarth BrooksTroyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
- Shania TwainShania TwainShania Twain, OC is a Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her album The Woman in Me , brought her fame and her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time. It has sold over 40 million...
, then known as Eileen Twain - The JuddsThe JuddsThe Judds were an American country music duo composed of Naomi Judd and her daughter, Wynonna Judd. Signed to RCA Records in 1983, the duo released six studio albums between then and 1991. One of the most successful acts in country music history, The Judds won five Grammy Awards for Best Country...
- Alanis MorissetteAlanis MorissetteAlanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
, when she was a country singer
After his show was cancelled by the CBC, Hunter continued to tour with his band, The Travelling Men. He has announced his intention to retire after a final tour in 2011.
Awards and recognition
Tommy Hunter was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of FameCanadian Country Music Hall of Fame
The Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, located in Merritt, British Columbia, was established in 1984 to honour Canadian country music artists, builders or broadcasters, living or deceased...
in 1984. In 1986, Hunter was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. He has received three Canadian Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
s and one Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
. In 1990, he was given a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame's "Walkway of Stars". A street ("Tommy Hunter Way") was also renamed in his honour in his hometown of London, Ontario, in the late 1990s. He became a member of the Order of Ontario
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
in 1996. In 2005 he was honored with a GMA Canada Lifetime Achievement Award
GMA Canada Lifetime Achievement Award
The GMA Canada Lifetime Achievement Award is handed out annually by GMA Canada . This annual award recognizes the achievements of artists and industry experts who have made the greatest contribution to further the Canadian Christian music scene. It is presented during GMA Canada Week, during which...
. The award is handed out annually by the Gospel Music Association of Canada
GMA Canada
GMA Canada is the Gospel Music Association of Canada . Created in 1974, the organization is a not for profit association whose mission is to promote the growth and ministry of Christian music arts in Canada...
.
Albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1964 | Tommy Hunter |
| 1968 | Travelling with Tommy Hunter |
| 1971 | Time Slips Away |
| 1973 | Greatest Hits |
| 1982 | Tommy |
| 1983 | Tommy Hunter |
| 1983 | Gospel Readings and Recitations |
| 1989 | The Anniversary Sessions |
| 1993 | Sings for You |
| 1994 | Timeless Country Treasures |
| 1995 | Timeless Country Treasures Vol. 2 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Country | CAN AC | US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
|||
| 1967 | "Mary in the Morning" | — | — | 66 | singles only |
| 1968 | "Can't Find a Space" | 13 | — | — | |
| 1969 | "Walk With Your Neighbour" | 4 | — | — | |
| 1970 | "Wait for Sunday" | 3 | — | — | |
| 1971 | "Bill Jones General Store" | 4 | 15 | — | |
| 1974 | "The Departure" | 33 | — | — | |
| "Born to Be a Gypsy" | 6 | — | — | ||
| 1975 | "Love of a Good Woman" | 32 | — | — | |
| 1978 | "The Great Mail Robbery" | 33 | 28 | — | |
| 1982 | "Dance With Me Molly" | 38 | — | — | Tommy |
| "Fool Enough to Fall in Love Again" | 34 | — | — | ||
| 1989 | "The Man of '87" | 49 | — | — | The Anniversary Sessions |
| 1990 | "Couldn't See the Gold" (with Janie Fricke Janie Fricke Janie Fricke is an American country music singer, best remembered for a series of country music hits in the early to mid 1980s.... ) |
19 | — | — | |
| "Name the Place and Time" | 64 | — | — |