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“Canadian Country Gentleman” Tommy Hunter, a celebrated musician whose professional career spanned from the 1950s to the early 2010s, has died.
The singer and guitarist died July 2 of natural causes, promoter and entertainment manager Brian Edwards confirmed to CBC News.
Hunter was 89 years old.
Hunter was born on March 20, 1937 in London, Ontario, and began an early career as an entertainer. He began taking guitar lessons around the age of nine, which soon led to him booking gigs, playing in churches, and eventually performing on the radio.
He became an actor on CBC television. Hoedown Country in 1956, before achieving his biggest success: hosting Tommy Hunter Show, which debuted as a radio show before moving to television. This series ran for 27 years until it ended in 1992.
WATCH | Tommy Hunter says goodbye:
Tommy Hunter says goodbye
The singer known as “Canada’s country gentleman” looks back on the good times and the bad as he begins his latest Canadian tour, CBC’s Dina Sumanak reports.
Over the course of his career, Hunter has received three Juno Awards, as well as a Gemini Award for Best Variety Series. The Tommy Hunter Show. He was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1984 and became a Member of the Order of Canada in 1986.
He continued performing until his 75th birthday in 2012. He is survived by three children, four grandchildren and one great-grandson.
More to come.