Tab Hunter (Arthur Andrew Kelm, New York City, New York, USA, July 11, 1931… Read Full Bio ↴Tab Hunter (Arthur Andrew Kelm, New York City, New York, USA, July 11, 1931 - July 8, 2018) was an American actor, pop singer, film producer, and author. He starred in more than 40 films and was a well-known Hollywood star of the 1950s and 1960s. He had a 1957 hit record with the song "Young Love," which was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for six weeks (seven weeks on the UK Chart) and became one of the larger hits of the Rock 'n' Roll era. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA. He had the hit, "Ninety-Nine Ways," which peaked at No. 11 in the US and No. 5 in the UK. His success prompted Jack L. Warner to enforce the actor's contract with the Warner Bros. studio by banning Dot Records, the label for which Hunter had recorded the single (and which was owned by rival Paramount Pictures), from releasing a follow-up album he had recorded for them. He established Warner Bros. Records specifically for Hunter.

Hunter was born in New York City, New York to immigrants from Germany. His father, Charles Kelm, was Jewish and his mother, Gertrude Gelien, a Lutheran who later converted to Judaism. Within a few years of his birth, his parents divorced and his mother moved with her two sons to California. She reassumed her maiden surname, Gelien, and changed the sons' name to that as well. Hunter's older brother, Walter, a medic, was killed in Vietnam. As a teenager, Hunter was a figure skater, competing in both singles and pairs.

Hunter was signed to a contract at Warner Bros. and re-named "Tab Hunter" by his first agent, Henry Willson. His good looks got him pegged as a teen idol. He landed a role in the film Island of Desire opposite Linda Darnell. Although he believed that he had a mediocre singing voice, he had a 1957 hit record with a cover of the Sonny James song, "Young Love," which was #1 for Hunter for over a month. Hunter's success led Warner Bros. to form Warner Bros. Records.

Hunter was perhaps best known for his starring role in the 1958 musical movie, Damn Yankees. In the movie, Hunter plays Joe Hardy of Washington D.C's American League baseball club. (The movie had originally been a broadway show, but Hunter was only in the movie version. The show was based on the 1954 best-selling book, "The Year The Yankees Lost the Pennant" by Douglass Wallop).

While doing The Tab Hunter Show (1960-1961) on television, he was one of the finalists for the lead in the movie version of West Side Story, but did not get the part, because the producers felt he was "too old" at 29. On July 9, 1960, he was arrested by Glendale, California police for beating his dog. He was acquitted by a jury, but the incident dealt a severe blow to his squeaky-clean image.

For a short time in the late 1960s, Hunter settled in the south of France, where he acted in "spaghetti westerns". His career was revived in the 1980s, when he starred opposite transvestite actor Divine in John Waters' Polyester (1981) and Paul Bartel's Lust in the Dust (1985). He is particularly remembered by later audiences as Mr. Stewart, the substitute teacher in "Grease 2," when he sang "Reproduction." He also wrote and starred in Dark Horse (1992).

Personal life
In his autobiography, Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star, he acknowledged his homosexuality, confirming rumors that had circulated since the height of his fame. The book became a best-seller, though the news of his relationship with Paramount star Anthony Perkins was first explored in the book Anthony Perkins: Split Image (Alyson Books).

Hunter lived in Montecito, California, near Santa Barbara with his partner of 23 years, film producer Allan Glaser. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6320 Hollywood Blvd.

Hunter's homosexuality contrasted sharply with his image as a "ladies man." His agent planted stories in teen and gossip magazines that Hunter was involved with many famous young starlets of the day, and, for a long time, Hunter was linked as Natalie Wood's "boyfriend." At a party the two attended, a female songwriter in attendance quipped openly, "Natalie Wood, but Tab wouldn't."

His agent and later his studio would go so far as to have Hunter appear at red carpet events and at night clubs with the starlet he was linked to.

Candy
Tab Hunter Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Some say that love is sweet as a rose,
Some say it's honey and the bee,
Well sit right down and let me tell you
What my love is to me.

"Candy"
I call my sugar "Candy"
Because I'm sweet on "Candy"

And "Candy" is sweet on me

He/She understands me,
My understanding "Candy"
And "Candy"'s always handy
When I need sympathy
I wish that there were four of him/her
So I could love much more of him/her

He/She has taken my complete heart,
Got a sweet tooth for my sweetheart
"Candy"
Its gonna be just dandy
The day I take my "Candy"

And make him mine all mine
Mine

Overall Meaning

The song, "Candy" by Tab Hunter is a classic and timeless piece that talks about love and affection. The lyrics signify how the singer feels about their beloved, Candy. The opening lines of the song state, "Some say that love is sweet as a rose, Some say it's honey and the bee." This line showcases how love is often compared to sweet things, but the singer also wants to tell the listener what their love is to them. The main theme of the song is all about sweetness, which is evident from the lyrics itself.

The singer in the song refers to their lover as "Candy", and calls them sweet. They compare Candy to the sweetness of a candy bar or candy in general. The singer is so obsessed with their lover that they wish there were four of them so that they could love even more. The lyrics, "My understanding 'Candy' and 'Candy''s always handy when I need sympathy" reflects the closeness and intimacy between the singer and Candy.

In the final lines of the song, the singer expresses their desire to make Candy theirs, emphasizing ownership and commitment to the relationship. Overall, the song is a perfect reflection of a love that is sweet, delicious, and full of affection.

Line by Line Meaning

Some say that love is sweet as a rose,
Love can be compared to a rose, perceived as sweet by some.

Some say it's honey and the bee,
Some associate love with the sweetness of honey and the symbiotic relationship between bees and nectar.

Well sit right down and let me tell you
Allow me to explain my perception of love to you.

What my love is to me.
My personal expression of love and affection.

I call my sugar "Candy"
I refer to my beloved as "Candy".

Because I'm sweet on "Candy"
Because I am infatuated with my "Candy".

And "Candy" is sweet on me
My "Candy" reciprocates and is enamored with me as well.

My understanding "Candy"
"Candy" comprehends me and my emotions.

And "Candy"'s always handy
My "Candy" is often available and supportive.

When I need sympathy
Especially when I require compassion.

I wish that there were four of him/her
I desire to multiply my love for "Candy".

So I could love much more of him/her
So that I can share my love and affections with all of my "Candy".

He/She has taken my complete heart,
My "Candy" possesses all of my heart and fervent devotion.

Got a sweet tooth for my sweetheart
I crave and enjoy the saccharine essence of my beloved.

"Candy"
"Candy" is an endearing nickname for my beloved.

Its gonna be just dandy
It will be exceptionally wonderful.

The day I take my "Candy"
The day I become fully committed to my cherished "Candy".

And make him mine all mine
To publicly declare my possessiveness and exclusivity over my beloved "Candy".

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Joan Whitney, Alex Kramer, Mack David

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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