Tommy Hunt 83 and Still Performing

[Mr Fred]

On Saturday the 18th of June 2016 my wife and I had the pleasure to be at Tommy Hunts 83rd birthday. We arrived at the Lion public house in Castleford ,which to locals is known as a bikers pub and yes there were motorbikes parked outside with bikers having a beer and generally chatting. We went inside and ordered some drinks at the bar. The crowd were a mixed  bag consisting of "soulies",rockers and others of all ages from the very young to I would say 60's.The compare went on to the stage to announce that Tommy would be on stage at 9.30pm. It wasn't long before Tommy was announced and he proceeded to step on to the stage and was greeted with a huge round of applause.

Tommy then thanked everybody from the bottom of his heart for coming to celebrate his 83rd birthday with him. He went on to tell everyone how he started singing and the groups he was in and his involvement in the music industry. He said  he was going to sing some songs that were favourites on the Northern scene and said to the sound man are you ready to roll with the first song .Now you would be forgiven to think that at 83 an artist would find it hard to hit the notes and struggle to sing with the years taking their toll. But in the case of Tommy you would be very wrong. He then went into a fantastic rendition of "cracking up over you" which he sang with passion and perfect deliverance. This shone through and the crowd responded with a massive round of applause. His next song was the one for which he is probably best  known "Loving on the losing side", which again was delivered passionately and with such professionalism. Tommy's third song was called "Soul In the Sun" liked by some but not by others, which is the classic Willie Mitchell "The Champion" to which Tommy had written words to. He sang it with strong vocals  and perfect tone the crowds response was to dance along in front of the stage generating an atmosphere which bounced over to Tommy and back to the crowd. Not once did Tommy falter with the words and notes, ending with a rapturous applause.

It was now time for a break and a perfect opportunity for Tommy's daughter to present him with a fully decorated birthday cake complete with miniature roman candle fireworks in full flow. He sat down and posed with the crowd for photographs and then announced that he would be back on stage later on,it was now 11.30pm and we had to leave due to commitments as we had to be up early the next day.I'm sure Tommy would have kept the crowd entertained until the early hours of Sunday.

If you ever get the chance to see Tommy perform don't pass up on the opportunity  as you will definitely not be disappointed.

All the best Fred Ward

 

Edited June 22, 2016 by Mr Fred

[Rhino]

great to hear he is still performing and enjoying do so at 83, some age to still have what it takes to perform to an avid crowd. fair play to him seen him a couple of times and was always good and long may it continue. rock on tommy

[Wiganer1]

He was brilliant at the nuneaton coop oldies all NITER in April...