Tommy Hunter

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Tommy Hunter C.M., O.Ont (born Thomas James Hunter March 10, 1937 in London, Ontario) is a Canadian country music performer, known as "Canada's Country Gentleman".

In 1956, he began performing as a rhythm guitarist 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.

People who performed on The Tommy Hunter Show early in their careers include:

• Garth Brooks
• Shania Twain, then known as Eileen Twain
• The Judds

After his show was cancelled by the CBC, Hunter continued to tour with his band, The Travelling Men.

[edit] Awards and recognition

In 1986, Hunter was made a Member of the Order of Canada. He has received three Canadian Juno Awards 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 annual by the Gospel Music Association of Canada. (GMA Canada)

[edit] External links

• Tommy Hunter official website (accessed 24 June 2006)
• Order of Canada citation: Tommy Hunter (accessed 24 June 2006)
• The Canadian Encyclopedia: Tommy Hunter