(February 13, 2025) We are sad to report the passing of the great Tommy Hunt, the smooth and soulful crooner who left his mark on doo-wop, R&B, and Northern Soul, both as a solo act and as part of The Flamingos. He was 91.
Hunt spent more than seven decades thrilling audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. Born in Pittsburgh in 1933, Hunt found his voice in Chicago, where he first sang with the Five Echoes. But his big break came when he joined the Flamingos, one of the greatest vocal groups of their era. With Hunt in the lineup, the group recorded the timeless “I Only Have Eyes for You,” a song that still stands tall two generations later.
By 1961, Hunt stepped into the solo spotlight, linking up with Luther Dixon for his debut single, “Parade of Broken Hearts.” But fate had other plans—a radio DJ mistakenly played the B-side, and suddenly “Human” became Hunt’s biggest U.S. hit. He also made history as the first artist to record “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself,” a Burt Bacharach and Hal David classic later made famous by Dusty Springfield and Dionne Warwick.
Hunt became a fixture at the Apollo Theater, sharing the stage with icons like Marvin Gaye, Jackie Wilson, and Diana Ross & The Supremes. But it was across the Atlantic that he found his second act. In the ‘70s, he became a hero of the UK’s Northern Soul scene, lighting up dance floors with hits like “Crackin’ Up” and “Loving on the Losing Side.”
Though Northern Soul’s golden era faded, Hunt never stopped performing. He moved to Amsterdam, toured the world, and later settled back in the UK, where he rode the wave of a Northern Soul revival. His contributions earned him a Rhythm and Blues Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction as part of the Flamingos.
Tommy Hunt combination of talent, drive and longevity created a special place for him in the history of popular music, and we will continue to celebrate him for years to come.
