In 1956, he began performing as a rhythm guitarist on the CBC Television show, Country Hoedown.

Performers on the show included singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot in the early years of his own musical career.

The book Cue the Elephant by Knowlton Nash (1996, McClelland & Stewart) featured some disparaging remarks from the show's make-up artist.

Some of the guys loathed him ... Everybody made snide remarks behind Tommy's back ... people might say he was the biggest jerk in the world.

A street ("Tommy Hunter Way") was also renamed in his honour in his hometown of London, Ontario, in the late 1990s.