Tommy Hunt - Only Human, My Soulful Life Book review

Available on Dec 1st 2008 Tommy Hunt - Only Human, My Soulful Life. Book review

To Soul music lovers the world over, we often only see a very small part of the lives led by our heroes and heroines, via their recordings, or when we cheer them from the stage in a live performance. I feel that we often forget that these artists, like us, have a human side to them, far removed from the glitter and adoration heaped upon them by us, and the uphill struggle it took them to become a star name in the first place.

Tommy Hunt is now a household name to most Soul music fans throughout the UK and beyond, via his live performances at Wigan Casino in the 70's and his multitude of great recordings such as " Never Love a Robin ", "Words Can Never Tell It "[Dynamo], "I'll Make You Happy " [Capitol] and " I Don't Want To Lose You " [Atlantic], but it wasn't always like this...

On December 1st his autobiography, "Only Human - My Soulful Life " written with Jan Warburton, is released through Bunkhouse books, and tells in his own words, how he rose through humble beginnings in Pittsburgh USA to become a member of the world famous " Doo - Wop " group The Flamingos, later signing for Florence Greenberg's Sceptre /Wand set up, and having a massive hit with " Human “. Having his follow up record upstaged by Dusty Springfield ,working with Burt Bacharach/ Hal David, Luther Dixon and many more, live appearances at New York's  Apollo theatre, with some great tales of his time spent rubbing shoulders with other famous Soul stars, like Marvin Gaye, James Brown, The Shirelles and many more, the desperation of prison, drugs, and his saving grace, the UK's Northern Soul scene, plus  the  ultimate honour of being inducted into the " Rock and Roll hall of Fame".

Having read the first five chapters of this book in advance, I can confirm that this is a compelling read, and having recently chatted at length with Tommy during the recent" Soul in the sun" weekend in Lanzarote, I can also assure potential readers, that he tells one hell of a story, with wonderful recall, warmth and humour, which has whetted my appetite to read the rest of his life story in full. An essential purchase, just in time for Christmas!! .

This book is available from all good book shops, plus online at: www.bankhousebooks.com    www.amazon.com and www.amazon.co.uk

Also available through Tommy’s website: www.tommyhunt.co.uk for a signed copy.

Eddie Hubbard [November 2008]

Out 1st December and can be pre -ordered from Tommy's website

photo from www.tommyhunt.co.uk