By Jason Malloy
It was an old-fashioned, hand-clapping, toe-tapping afternoon as a country music legend performed Saturday for the final time in Kings County.
Tommy Hunter played many familiar original songs and a few that others, including Wilf Carter and Johnny Cash, played on his TV shows. Canada’s Country Gentleman opened the show at Acadia’s Convocation Hall with Talk About The Good Times.
“It’s great. I’m really enjoying it,” Kentville resident Morley Wills said during the intermission.
He has been a fan for more than 30 years and remembers watching both his TV shows. Hunter entertained audiences for 36 years, starting with a nine-year run on Country Hoedown before hosting the Tommy Hunter Show for 27 years.
“It’s brought back a lot of memories, that’s for sure,” Wills said of Saturday’s show. “I would like to have him do another tour next year.”
That won’t happen as Hunter was adamant this will be his final tour. It will wrap up March 20 in his hometown, London, Ont. coinciding with his 75th birthday.
Hunter was engaging as ever Saturday, sharing old stories and keeping the audience smiling and laughing during his performance.
“I knew I was among friends just as soon as I stepped off that bus out there,” he said. Someone rushed up to him and asked how he was doing? Hunter asked if the man knew who he was.
“It’s brought back a lot of memories.” - Morley Wills, Kentville resident
“Yep, you’re the guy that used to be on television,” the man told Hunter.
The man said he watched the show “on and off,” leaving the country music icon looking for clarification.
“Just as soon as you came on, I turned you off,” the man said.
By this time the audience was in stitches. It was just one of the jokes Hunter relayed to the audience during his performance.
George Michaels was glad he travelled from Yarmouth to hear the concert.
“It’s great,” he said of Hunter’s last local show.
