Tommy Hunt (June 18, 1933 – February 12, 2025) was an American soul and northern soul singer renowned for his deeply rich and powerful
voice, his sharp hip and downright impossible dance routines and his spellbinding
charisma.
Born to Georgianna Derico, Hunt started his life in
Pittsburgh, where his school friends, nicknamed him Tommy which 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 he and his
mother moved to Chicago.
After a stint in the United States Air Force, Hunt went AWOL
in order to be with his mother who was dying. He served time in prison for deserting,
and after his release, returned to Chicago and formed a group called The Five
Echoes. While performing in a club, he was approached by Zeke Carey of The
Flamingos, and asked to take Carey's place, as he had recently been drafted.
Hunt was kept on after Carey returned.
In 1959 their biggest hit was "I Only Have Eyes For
You" which remains their most popular song, being used in film soundtracks
and on compilation albums to this date.
Hunt left the group in 1960 due to musical differences, but
within three days he was approached by Luther Dixon and released "Parade
Of Broken Hearts" which was slow to be picked up by the radio stations. In
New York a disc jockey called Jocko Henderson introduced the song but played
the B-side by mistake. The track aired was "Human", Hunt's biggest
hit in the U.S. His 1962 B-side, "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself",
written by Bacharach and David and produced by Leiber and Stoller, was the
first recording of the song which later became a major hit for Dusty
Springfield, Dionne Warwick and others.
Hunt became a regular performing at The Apollo in New York
alongside such artists as Jackie Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Diana Ross
and The Supremes, The Shirelles, Dionne Warwick, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and
Sam and Dave. To the best of his 
knowledge, Hunt remains the only person to
have his photograph framed twice in the Apollo foyer, both with the Flamingos
and as a solo artist. Several years and a couple of minor hits later, Hunt sang
for the U.S. Army in Germany. By 1969 he left his homeland, travelled back to
Germany, through Belgium and across the English Channel to the United Kingdom.
knowledge, Hunt remains the only person to
have his photograph framed twice in the Apollo foyer, both with the Flamingos
and as a solo artist. Several years and a couple of minor hits later, Hunt sang
for the U.S. Army in Germany. By 1969 he left his homeland, travelled back to
Germany, through Belgium and across the English Channel to the United Kingdom.
After several performances in the theatre clubs
throughout the UK, Hunt sang at the second anniversary of the Wigan Casino, and
there followed success on the Northern soul scene. Hunt was approached by Russ
Winstanly and Mike Walker of the Casino and released several hits on Spark
Records. The first was a cover version of a song formerly sung by Roy Hamilton,
entitled "Crackin' Up". It peaked at #39 in the UK Singles Chart in
October 1975.This was followed by another chart success "Loving On The
Losing Side" (UK #28, 1976). 1982/83 saw Hunt win the Male Vocalist of the
Year, presented by Club Mirror. His track, 
"One Fine Morning",
reached #44 in the UK chart in December 1976.
"One Fine Morning",
reached #44 in the UK chart in December 1976.
With the decline of the Northern soul, Hunt's shows
dwindled and he hit the cabaret circuit further afield, moving to Amsterdam in
1986, and travelling the world. 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, Hunt relocated to the UK and embarked
on a revived Northern soul scene.
In later years, having turned his hand to song-writing, Hunt
penned his autobiography, Only Human, My Soulful Life, with author, Jan
Warburton, which was released in December 2008.
In 2001, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Flamingos. Later, Hunt started a new live show as Tommy Hunt & the New Flamingos, with members of the Spanish vocal group Velvet Candles. This show was presented on June 3, 2011, during the Screamin' Summer Festival in Barcelona, Spain. At the same time, Tommy also joined John Valero and The Black Beltones, and later The Twisted Wheels, that was his backing band in some shows around Spain. Tommy wrote all lyrics of their first album released in 2024.
Touring almost to the end, Tommy Hunt died in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom on February 12, 2025, at the age of 91.
(Edited mainly from Wikipedia)
