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.
I Love You Yes I Do
Tab Hunter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I love you, yes, I do
I′m yours my whole life through
Since I first laid eyes on you
You love me, yes, you do
You need me, I need you
I'm yours my whole life through
I love you, yes, I do
From the day you took my heart
You′re the one girl, I'll always admire
Darling, you're my guiding star
I must be forever where you are
You set my world on fire
I love you, yes, I do
I need you, yes, I do
I′m yours my whole life through
Since I first laid eyes on you
I know you know it′s true
I love you, yes, I do
I love you, yes, I do
The lyrics to Tab Hunter's song "I Love You Yes I Do" convey a message of deep and unwavering love for the subject of the singer's affection. Throughout the song, the singer expresses his conviction that he is meant to be with this person for his entire life, forever admiring her and always needing her. He explains that he knew from the first moment he saw her that he loved her, and that she feels the same way about him. In his eyes, she is a guiding star and the one person who can set his world on fire.
The song's message is clear and simple: the love that the singer has for this person is pure and genuine, and it will last for eternity. The lyrics are straightforward and sincere, with no hidden meanings or subtexts. This straightforwardness, combined with the melody's gentle, lilting tone, creates a song that feels both timeless and deeply romantic.
Overall, "I Love You Yes I Do" is a song that captures the essence of true love and devotion. It tells a story of two people who are meant to be together and who will love each other forever, no matter what life throws their way.
Line by Line Meaning
I love you, yes, I do
I have strong and genuine feelings of affection towards you
I'm yours my whole life through
I commit to being with you forever
Since I first laid eyes on you
My love for you began the moment I saw you
You love me, yes, you do
You have reciprocal feelings of love towards me
You need me, I need you
We both rely on each other and can't imagine life without one another
I guess you knew it from the start
You likely already suspected my love for you from early on
From the day you took my heart
You captivated and stole my affection from the beginning
You're the one girl, I'll always admire
You are the one who I will always hold in high regard and respect
Darling, you're my guiding star
You are my source of direction and inspiration in life
I must be forever where you are
I will never be too far from you and will always be by your side
You set my world on fire
Your presence and love inflames and excites me
I know you know it's true
I am aware that you are aware of my unwavering love for you
I love you, yes, I do
I repeat once more: I have strong and genuine feelings of affection towards you
Writer(s): Henry Glover, Guy Wood, Sol Marcus, Eddie Seiler, Sally Nix
Contributed by Adeline L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.