On today’s date in 1992, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) cancelled The Tommy Hunter Show, which ran for 27 years as a weekly series.
Despite the success in becoming North America’s longest-running network music show, the network felt “Canada’s country gentleman” only appealed to an older audience.
More than two decades after the show was cancelled, Tommy Hunter was one of five Canadian country music artists commemorated in a series of stamps issued by Canada Post.
Hunter, then 77 and living in London, Ont., where the unveiling took place, said it was a “big thrill” for him but suggested his late mother might not have been impressed, CBC reported.
“I’d have to reassure my mother that while this stamp is going to be used, it’s only until Christmas time or something, and then Her Majesty will be put back on the stamp.”
Renée Martel, Hank Snow, k.d. lang and Shania Twain were also recognized in the collection, which honoured Canada’s contribution to county music history. The five stamps were available in a number of sets, including booklets of 10 domestic-rate stamps.
The stamps measure 40 millimetres by 32 millimetres and are available in five different booklets of 10 stamps—one featuring each artist. The five separate souvenir sheets measure 140 millimetres by 110 millimetres.
Each of the stamps was printed by the Lowe-Martin Group while the Hunter stamp was designed by Roy White, of Subplot Design.
The official first-day cover for the Hunter stamp was serviced in London, Ont.