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.
Ninety Nine Ways
Tab Hunter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of losin the blues
That I got from lovin you.
Oh ninety-nine ways
But none of them do.
There must be ninety-nine ways
To do without you
I'm feelin so bad
And nothin is right.
Oh baby I'm missin
Your huggin and your kissin
I'm lonely as can be.
Well I've tried all the others
But none of the others
Can do what you're doin to me.
There must be ninety-nine ways
Of losin the blues
That I got from lovin you.
Mmm ninety-nine ways
But I still love you.
Instrumental
There must be ninety-nine ways
Of losin the blues
That I got from lovin you.
Mmm ninety-nine ways
But I still love you.
Yes I do,
Yes ninety-nine ways
But I still love you
In the song Ninety Nine Ways by Tab Hunter, the artist is expressing his feeling of loss after a breakup. The lyrics are talking about the various ways that one can try to move on from a failed relationship, but the artist is unable to find any solace in any of them. The opening line indicates that there must be many ways of losing the blues that come with a breakup, but none of them seem to work for the singer. He still loves the person who has left him and cannot get over the pain of their absence.
The lyrics continue to express the singer's loneliness and missing the physical affection of his lover. He tries to find comfort in other people, but no one can fill the void that his lover has left behind. The ending of the song repeats the phrase "ninety-nine ways, but I still love you," indicating that the artist cannot move on from their love no matter how many ways he tries.
Overall, the song is a heartfelt expression of loss and heartbreak that many people can relate to. The artist's use of the phrase "ninety-nine ways" suggests that there are countless ways to try to move on, but ultimately, it's up to the individual to find their own way to heal.
Line by Line Meaning
There must be ninety-nine ways
The singer is suggesting that there are many potential ways to move on from his heartbreak, despite feeling overwhelmed by sadness.
Of losin the blues
He is looking for ways to ease his emotional pain and sadness.
That I got from lovin you.
The source of his sadness and pain is the end of a romantic relationship with someone he loved.
Oh ninety-nine ways
The singer is expressing that there are many possible solutions, but none of them have worked for him so far.
But none of them do.
Despite his efforts to move on, the singer is still experiencing the same level of heartbreak and pain.
To do without you
There are many ways to cope with the end of a relationship, but the singer is struggling to find one that works for him.
But I can't find one tonight.
Despite actively searching for a solution, the singer is still struggling with the pain of the breakup and can't seem to find any relief.
I'm feelin so bad
The singer's sadness and heartbreak is affecting him deeply and causing a lot of emotional pain.
And nothin is right.
The end of the relationship has thrown off the singer's entire life and he is having a hard time adjusting.
Oh baby I'm missin
The singer is expressing how much he misses his ex-girlfriend and the physical and emotional connection they shared.
Your huggin and your kissin
The physical intimacy shared with his ex-girlfriend is something he misses dearly.
I'm lonely as can be.
The end of the relationship has left the singer feeling incredibly alone and isolated.
Well I've tried all the others
The singer has tried many other coping mechanisms to deal with his heartbreak.
But none of the others
Despite trying many different methods, nothing seems to work for the singer and his sadness persists.
Can do what you're doin to me.
The emotional pain caused by the end of the relationship is a unique and deep feeling that can't be alleviated by other methods.
Mmm ninety-nine ways
The singer is still fixated on the idea that there are many ways to move past his heartbreak, but none of them have worked for him.
But I still love you.
Despite the end of the relationship and the pain it has brought him, the singer is still in love with his ex-girlfriend and can't seem to shake his feelings for her.
Yes I do,
The singer is emphasizing that, despite everything, he still loves his ex-girlfriend deeply.
Contributed by Lillian K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
sauquoit13456
On this day in 1957 {April 11th} "Ninety-Nine Ways" by Tab Hunter peaked at #11* {for 1 week} on Billboard's 'Top 100' chart, thus just missing making the Top 10 chart...
The very same week "Ninety-Nine Ways" was peaking at #11, Tab Hunter's former #1 record, "Young Love", was still on the Top 100 at position #21...
Between 1957 and 1959 Tab Hunter had seven records on the Top 100 chart, one made the Top 10, "Young Love", it peaked at #1 for six weeks on January 31st, 1957...
Tab Hunter, born Arthur Andrew Gelien, passed away at the age of 86 on July 8th, 2918...
May he R.I.P.
* From the 'For What It's Worth' department, the ten records that kept "Ninety-Nine Ways" out of the Top 10 were:
At #1. "All Shook Up" by Elvis Presley
#2. "Little Darlin'" by The Diamonds
#3. "Round and Round" by Perry Como
#4. "Party Doll" by Buddy Knox with the Rhythm Orchids
#5. "Gone" by Ferlin Husky
#6. "Butterfly" by Andy Williams
#7. "I'm Walkin'" by Fats Domino
#8. "Why Baby Why" by Pat Boone
#9. "Butterfly" by Charlie Gracie {the record's B-side was Mr. Gracie's version of "Ninety-Nine Ways"}
#10. "Come Go With Me" by The Dell-Vikings
Glennsten Bergkvist
Tab had such limited range it is hard to believe he had a following as a singer. And I don't think it has any sensibility that could connect it to the 1930's, but rather that it seems quite comfortable in the 1950's. The problem is not that it is banal, more likely it is bland in lyrics and is nothing more than a pleasant riff musically.
Bic Parker
It's too bad they gave him such a banal song (sounds like it's circa 1932).
Holger Rune Fan
But in 1932, Bing would have sung it and it would have been a thousand times superior to this. I adore Tab, but this arrangement sucks.
shirley baker
You need to listen to Charlie Gracie it is much better.