One of Birmingham’s most enduring, theater-fueled friendships is between two of the city’s most enduring performers, Kristi Tingle Higginbotham and Jan Hunter.
The two met when Hunter, a Mississippi native who had lived in Los Angeles, moved to Birmingham, and since then, they’ve been close friends, colleagues on stage and, now, grandmothers together.
A friendship between two talented actresses, both of whom thrive in the spotlight, might flummox some, but Higginbotham and Hunter say they’re more than happy to share that spotlight, and that’s never more apparent than when they perform together as The Hot Tamales.
Next Father’s Day will mark the 30th anniversary of the Tamales’ debut at the now-defunct City Stages music festival, so it seems appropriate to celebrate Higginbotham, Hunter and their friendship this Father’s Day weekend.
When did you two meet?
JH: Kristi and I met at what was then Town and Gown in late 1993. I had recently moved to Birmingham from LA and had met Lani and Norton Dill at a party. I hadn’t been on stage in about eight years, but they encouraged me to come audition for their upcoming production of “Nunsense,” which they cast me in. Kristi walked into one of our rehearsals one day, I’m pretty sure it was a Saturday, and we were introduced. I’d heard her name, of course, as being one of the most talented performers in town. The next time we met was at the CVS in Homewood in the check-out line. Our first show together was “The World Goes ‘Round,” which we’ve now done a total of five times!
KTH: I remember stopping by Town and Gown Theatre, probably to pick up a script and score. I walked in the back of the theater, and they were rehearsing the musical “Nunsense” on stage. They took a break, and Jan started walking to the back of the theater, and I truly remember feeling oh my gosh, this is gonna be one of my good friends. And we stood in the back of the theater and met each other for the first time. A few months later, we were cast in the show “The World Goes ‘Round,” and that was all in 1994!.
Many folks’ introduction to you two together was the wonderful concert at City Stages in 1996. How did that come about?
KTH: at that time City Stages was a huge event in Birmingham, I had done one or two years as a solo act, and I remember Betsy Henle calling me one day and saying, “I think you and Jan Hunter should come up with an act to perform at City Stages! And why don’t y’all come up with some clever, unique name!” When I told my husband, David, about that, a commercial came on TV for a cooking show called “The Two Hot Tamales.“ David turned to me and said, “That’s what you and Jan are, Hot Tamales,“ and that’s how it happened.
JH: Kristi performed at City Stages the previous summer, and they wanted her back the next year, but the rule was no one could be a repeat performer. So, they asked her to buddy up with someone, and she asked me! I think we both had enough … songs we’d always wanted to do to get our show started, but it really was, “Let’s start at the very beginning.” I don’t think either of us expected anything to come after that, but we started getting asked to sing at parties, luncheons and conventions. And it continued.
What do you remember about that show at the Church of the Advent?
JH: What do I remember? Different parts from the different places in my life. I was so nervous, had had to have my dress altered at the last minute, made sure my kids were fed, worried about parking, etc. As we were dressing, my then husband called to say he wasn’t going to bring the kids because he wasn’t coming. So, I’m trying not to fall apart, which I know was stressing Kristi out. We got out there and it was packed. All seats taken, standing room only, and yes, my kids were there. Kristi’s always a pro, but I didn’t forget any words, I didn’t cry, and I loved every minute of being with her. It was raining, but the room was bright, light and full of love. We made it through to a thunderous ovation.
KTH: I remember the excitement of planning that show, it was a tremendously hot day, but the church was packed, hopefully not just for the air conditioning, but to come hear Jan and I sing together in our new cabaret act. I also remember there was a lovely reception in the back of the church after our show.
The Hot Tamales, who still perform together, led to double the fun with Four For Time. Can you tell me about the quartet?
JH: After a couple of years being a duo, we got teamed up with Lonnie Parsons and Carl Dean to open the Summerfest Cabaret. Our show was “The All Night Strut,” a revue full of close harmonies and wartime music. Then, we did “Sinatra’s My Way” and “Christmas My Way” with more harmonies and songs from the American songbook. Put that together with the four of us really liking each other and sounding great together and we became Four For Time (name by Lonnie). We performed at countless parties and events until Lonnie decided to move to Las Vegas. But those were some of my favorite years.
KTH: It was only a few years later when Lonnie Parsons decided we need to form a quartet with our dear friend Carl Dean. Lonnie was the one that came up with the name Four For Time! For years and years after that, the Hot Tamales and the quartet got many bookings. We all actually made quite a nice little extra salary from performing for different groups, private parties, companies, book clubs and such all across the state.
Tell me a bit more about your friendship. Some might be surprised to know it’s such a close one.
KTH: The friendship between Jan and I was instant, and I don’t think people should be surprised because making great music and performing together requires a certain trust, and that comes from a deep friendship. We’re always watching out for one another, perhaps finishing a missed lyric for one another, especially now that we’re getting older, lol!
JH: Kristi has seen me through some tough changes in my life and has always been there for me. She’s a wonderful friend, a huge part of my heart, and I cherish her. We have a trust in each other as performers because of that love and I know that she’ll always have my back. It’s a beautiful thing to feel.
Speaking of changes in your life, three decades later, you’re both grandmothers. Can you talk about that?
JH: It doesn’t seem possible that so many years have gone by – time’s funny that way. Our kids are grown and we’re both grandmothers. That word needs to be replaced – it makes a woman sound so old! Anyway, our kids have kids now. We each still do songs we sang on our first night together. They may take on different meanings now, maybe not, because some songs are just good to keep around.
KTH: Ahhh, becoming grandmothers. I think that has caused both of us to slow down just a bit because we don’t want to miss out on anything as far as being a grandparent. Also, the voice ages with time, and we are both working and dealing with that in some aspect.
What’s next? Will you be celebrating the 30th year of that concert?
JH: I hope for our 30th anniversary, we can find a venue that will let us do a big ol’ reunion show. That’s what I’m going to aim for. Our next official performance is at Homewood Theatre Aug. 13-17 for the “Bill Bugg & Friends Show, Part 8!” Hope to see you then.
KTH: As far as celebrating these three amazing decades together, Jan and I truly celebrate every time we’re together! We continue to perform for smaller groups, lots of retirement homes and church programs! And it gives us such joy when we see the joy on the faces of those people in a smaller setting.
