PROGRESSIVE MUSIC COMPANY

AFRO-AMERICAN MUSIC INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 36 YEARS

BOYS CHOIR AFRICA SHIRTS
 
 
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/building-today-for-tomorrow/x/267428

 Pain Relief Beyond Belief

                         http://www.komehsaessentials.com/                              

 

PITTSBURGH JAZZ

 

From Blakey to Brown, Como to Costa, Eckstine to Eldridge, Galbraith to Garner, Harris to Hines, Horne to Hyman, Jamal to Jefferson, Kelly to Klook; Mancini to Marmarosa, May to Mitchell, Negri to Nestico, Parlan to Ponder, Reed to Ruther, Strayhorn to Sullivan, Turk to Turrentine, Wade to Williams… the forthcoming publication Treasury of Pittsburgh Jazz Connections by Dr. Nelson Harrison and Dr. Ralph Proctor, Jr. will document the legacy of one of the world’s greatest jazz capitals.

 

Do you want to know who Dizzy Gillespie  idolized? Did you ever wonder who inspired Kenny Clarke and Art Blakey? Who was the pianist that mentored Monk, Bud Powell, Tad Dameron, Elmo Hope, Sarah Vaughan and Mel Torme? Who was Art Tatum’s idol and Nat Cole’s mentor? What musical quartet pioneered the concept adopted later by the Modern Jazz Quartet? Were you ever curious to know who taught saxophone to Stanley Turrentine or who taught piano to Ahmad Jamal? What community music school trained Robert McFerrin, Sr. for his history-making debut with the Metropolitan Opera? What virtually unknown pianist was a significant influence on young John Coltrane, Shirley Scott, McCoy Tyner, Bobby Timmons and Ray Bryant when he moved to Philadelphia from Pittsburgh in the 1940s?  Would you be surprised to know that Erroll Garner attended classes at the Julliard School of Music in New York and was at the top of his class in writing and arranging proficiency?

 

Some answers  can be gleaned from the postings on the Pittsburgh Jazz Network.

 

For almost 100 years the Pittsburgh region has been a metacenter of jazz originality that is second to no other in the history of jazz.  One of the best kept secrets in jazz folklore, the Pittsburgh Jazz Legacy has heretofore remained mythical.  We have dubbed it “the greatest story never told” since it has not been represented in writing before now in such a way as to be accessible to anyone seeking to know more about it.  When it was happening, little did we know how priceless the memories would become when the times were gone.

 

Today jazz is still king in Pittsburgh, with events, performances and activities happening all the time. The Pittsburgh Jazz Network is dedicated to celebrating and showcasing the places, artists and fans that carry on the legacy of Pittsburgh's jazz heritage.

 

WELCOME!

 

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Duke Ellington is first African-American and the first musician to solo on U.S. circulating coin

    MARY LOU WILLIAMS     

            INTERVIEW

       In Her Own Words

Tommy Hunt

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tommy Hunt
Only Human 1962.jpg
Background information
Birth name Charles James Hunt
Born June 18, 1933 (age 88)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Occupation(s) Singer
Associated acts The Flamingos

Tommy Hunt (born Charles James Hunt; June 18, 1933 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States)[1] is an American soul/northern soul singer, and a 2001 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee as a member of famed R&B group The Flamingos.

Early life[edit source]

Born to Georgianna Derico, Hunt started his life in Pittsburgh, where his school friends, nicknamed him Tommy, and it has 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.

The Flamingos[edit source]

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.[1] 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.[2]

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.

Solo career[edit source]

Hunt left the group in 1961 due to musical differences,[1] 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.[1] 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,[1] 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, traveled back to Germany, through Belgium and across the English Channel to the United Kingdom.

Northern soul[edit source]

Hunt in 2002

After several performances in the theater clubs throughout the UK, Hunt sang at the second anniversary of the Wigan Casino, and there followed success on the Northern soul scene.[1] Hunt was approached by Russ Winstanly and Mike Walker of the Casino and released several hits on Spark Records.[1] The first was a cover version of a song formerly sung by Roy Hamilton, entitled "Crackin' Up".[1] It peaked at No. 39 in the UK Singles Chart in October 1975.[3] This was followed by another chart success "Loving On The Losing Side" (UK No. 28, 1976). 1982/83 saw Hunt win the Male Vocalist of the Year, presented by Club Mirror. His track, "One Fine Morning", reached No. 44 in the UK chart in December 1976.[3]

Later years[edit source]

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 traveling 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 songwriting, Hunt penned his autobiography, Only Human, My Soulful Life, with author, Jan Warburton, which was released in December 2008.

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.

Awards[edit source]

The award for the Flamingos from the Vocal Group Hall of Fame came in 2000, followed by the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame in 2001. The Flamingos were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for their thirty-year contribution to music.

Discography[edit source]

The Five Echoes with the Fats Coles Band

Sabre 102 – "Lonely Mood" / "Baby Come Back To Me" – 1953 (Black Vinyl)

Sabre 102 – "Lonely Mood" / "Baby Come Back To Me" – 1953 (Red Vinyl)

The Five Echoes

Sabre 107? - "Why Oh Why" / "That's My Baby" - 1954

The Flamingos

Decca 30335 - "The Ladder Of Love" / "Let's Make Up" - 1957
Decca 30454 - "Helpless" / "My Faith In You" - 1957
Decca 30687 - "Where Mary Go" / "The Rock And Roll March" - 1958
End 1035 - "Lovers Never Say Goodbye" / "That Love Is You" – 1958
End 1040 - "But Not For Me" / "I Shed A Tear At Your Wedding" - 1959
End 1044 - "At The Prom" / "Love Walked In" – 1959
End 1045 - "I Only Have Eyes For You" / "At The Prom" - 1959
End 1046 - "I Only Have Eyes For You" / "Goodnight Sweetheart" – 1959
Decca 30880 - "Ever Since I Met Lucky" / "Kiss-A-Me" - 1959
End 1055 - "Love Walked In" / "Yours" - 1959
Decca 30948 - "Jerri-Lee" / "Hey Now!" - 1959
End 1062 - "I Was Such A Fool" / "Heavenly Angel" - 1959
End 1065 - "Mi Amore" / "You, Me And The Sea" - 1960
End 1068 - "Nobody Loves Me Like You" / "You, Me And The Sea" – 1960
End 1070 - "Besame Mucha" / "You, Me And The Sea" – 1960
End 1073 - "Mi Amore" / "At Night" – 1960
End 1079 – "When I Fall In Love" / "Beside You" – 1960
End 1085 – "That's Why I Love You" / "Ko Ko Mo" – 1960
End 1092 – "Time Was" / "Dream Girl" – 1960
End 1099 – "My Memories Of You" / "I Want To Love You" - 1960

Tommy Hunt - U.S. singles

Scepter 1219 - "Human" / "Parade Of Broken Hearts" -1961
Scepter 1226 - "The Door Is Open" / "I'm Wondering" - 1962
Scepter 1231 - "So Lonely" / "The Work Song" – 1962
Scepter 1235 - "Didn’t I Tell You She’ll Hurt You" / "Poor Millionaire You’re So Fine" – 1962
Scepter 1236 - "And I Never Knew" / "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" - 1962
Scepter 1252 - "Do You Really Love Me" / "Son, My Son" - 1963
Scepter 1261 - "I Am A Witness"* / "I'm With You" - 1963 *written by Ed Townsend
Scepter 1275 - "It’s All A Bad Dream" / "You Made A Man Out Of Me" – 1964
Atlantic 2278 - "I Don’t Want To Lose You" / "Hold On" – 1965
Capitol 5621 - "I’ll Make You Happy" / "The Clown" - 1966
Dynamo 101 - "The Biggest Man" / "Never Love A Robin" – 1967
Dynamo 105 - "Words Can Never Tell It" / "How Can I Be Anything" – 1967
Dynamo 110 - "Complete Man" / "Searchin’ For My Love" – 1967
Dynamo 113 - "I Need A Woman Of My Own" / "Searchin’ For My Baby (Lookin’ Everywhere)" - 1967
Dynamo 124 - "Born Free" / "Just A Little Taste (Of Your Sweet Lovin’)" - 1968
Private Stock 45,115 - "Loving On The Losing Side" / "Sunshine Girl" - 1976
Collectables Col 030077 - "Oh No Not My Baby" / "Human*" - 1981 *Flip By Tommy Hunt.
Town 103 - "The Work Song" / "Please Stay*" - 198? *Flip By The Ivory's

Tommy Hunt - UK singles

Polydor 236 – "Mind Body and Soul / One Mountain to Climb" – 1972
Top Rank Jar-605 - "The Door is Open" / "I'm Wondering" - 1962
Polydor 236 - "Mind Body and Soul" / "One Mountain to Climb - 1972
Spark 1132 - "Crackin' Up" / "Get Out" - 1975
Spark 1146 - "Loving on the Losing Side" / "Sunshine Girl" – 1976
Spark 1148 – "One Fine Morning" / "Sign on the Dotted Line" / "Loving You" - 1976

Albums

Scepter SRM 506 (mono) / Scepter SPS 506 (stereo) - I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself - 1962
Tracks: I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself / The Work Song / Parade of Broken Hearts / You're So Fine / She'll Hurt You So / And I Never Knew / Human / Didn't I Tell You / The Door Is Open / Poor Millionaire / So Lonely / I'm Wondering

Dynamo DM 7001 (mono) / Dynamo DS 8001 (stereo) - Tommy Hunt's Greatest Hits - 1967
Tracks: The Biggest Man / Comin' On Strong / Words Can Never Tell It / Never Love A Robin / How Can I Be Anything (Without You) / All In the Game / I Believe / Human / Born Free / Everybody's Got A Home (But Me)

Spark SRLP 117 - Live At Wigan Casino - 1976
Tracks: I Can’t Turn You Loose / Get Ready / My Girl / Knock On Wood / Never Can Say Goodbye /// Help Me Make It Through The Night / Crackin’ Up / Baby I Need Your Loving

Spark SRLP 120 – Sign Of The Times – 1976
Tracks: Loving On The Losing Side / Upon My Soul / Get Out / A Miracle Like You / You Got Me Where You Want Me / A Sign Of The Times /// Sign On The Dotted Line / Loving You Is / Crackin’ Up / Help Me Make It Thru’ The Night / Sunshine Girl / Never Can Say Goodbye.

Kent 059 – Your Man - 1986
Tracks: Love / She’ll Hurt You Too / Didn’t I Tell You / This And Only This / It’s All A Bad Dream / I Am A Witness / Make The Night A Little Longer / Oh Lord What Are You Doing To Me /// Human / Your Man / Don’t Make Me Over / The Parade Of Broken Hearts / I Might Like It / You Made A Man Out Of Me / Just A Little Taste Of Your Sweet Lovin’ / Promised Land

References[edit source]

  1. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1209. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^ "Tommy Hunt- Legendary Doo Wop & Soul Artist". Tommyhuntofficial.com. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  3. ^ Jump up to:a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 263. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

Bibliography[edit source]

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