02/16/2025
I want to thank all of my friends and fans who called, texted and emailed me in the last couple of days about the death of Tommy Hunt.
Our relationship was strained as we got older, but in our youth we shared something greater than ourselves with the recording of the most beautiful love song ever recorded, ‘I Only Have Eyes For You’. (https://youtu.be/2XuXNg8Q0Dc)
It’s funny and weird how groups suffer and sacrifice to gain success. We rehearsed all the time. We all had jobs in the group. Jake and Zeke were in charge of bookings and recording contracts, I was in charge of arranging the music and vocals, Paul & Tommy were in charge of uniforms and finding ways to make us look as sharp as we could look. Paul & Tommy were also in charge of routines. Unfortunately Tommy had to pay a heavy price on his legs, for all of those fantastic dance steps and splits as seen in our ‘Jump Children’ recording in the Alan Freed movie ‘Go Johnny Go’ (https://youtu.be/12w2lGOAZ58). Nate Nelson, well let’s just say all Nate had to do is sing ‘I Only Have Eyes For You’, and all the other beautiful love songs that he sang. Nate also brought many ideas to the group but never got the proper recognition as being one of the premier lead singers of the day. He had a silky smooth voice that no-one else had.
Tommy loved Cesar Romero and always strived to look like him. He never went anywhere unless he was dressed as sharp as a tack, with stage makeup on, and never passed a mirror without checking himself out.
The Flamingos were a rare group for the times. We had 4 lead singers, harmonies that most people couldn’t figure out, dance steps like the Nicholas Brothers, and always dressed to the nines. Nate, Paul, Tommy and myself sang the leads. Tommy would close the shows sometimes with his beautiful baritone lead on ‘Everybody’s Got A Home But Me’ (https://youtu.be/q7BFshpgEWw). He would get the crowd into such a frenzy and then he would act like he passed out at the end of the song. The girls were crying and we had to go out there and carry him off the stage. We always got a good laugh backstage over that. One night we actually left him out there, we all got tired of carrying him off. Needless to say we got a good laugh over that one too.
There are a lot of fun memories that we made together and a lot of things we had to endure together. We couldn’t eat or sleep where we wanted to in those days. We made sacrifices just like our ancestors did in order for black entertainers to have it much easier today.
As I said, most groups sacrifice together until they make it to a successful point, and then suddenly they see the faults in each other.
Tommy chose his path as we all did. He went on to have a successful career and is known as a great entertainer, and for that I am proud of him. He did it his way.
Rest in peace my brother. You will be remembered for your solo career and for your contribution to one of the greatest vocal groups in history, The ‘I Only Have Eyes For You’ Flamingos, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees 2001. 🦩
