Tom Jones (singer)
Template:Short description Template:Pp-blp Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox person Sir Thomas Jones Woodward<ref>Template:Cite episode</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (born Thomas John Woodward; 7 June 1940) is a Welsh singer. His career began with a string of top 10 hits in the 1960s and he has since toured regularly, with appearances in Las Vegas from 1967 to 2011. His voice has been described by AllMusic as a "full-throated, robust baritone".<ref name="allmusic">Template:Cite web</ref>
Jones's performing range has included pop, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, soul, and gospel. In 2008, the New York Times called him a "musical shapeshifter [who could] slide from soulful rasp to pop croon, with a voice as husky as it was pretty".<ref name="nyt01">Template:Cite news</ref> He has sold over 100 million records, with 36 Top 40 hits in the UK and 19 in the US, including "It's Not Unusual", "What's New Pussycat?", the theme song for the James Bond film Thunderball (1965), "Green, Green Grass of Home", "Delilah", "She's a Lady", "Sex Bomb", and a cover of Prince's "Kiss".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Jones has also occasionally dabbled in acting, first making his debut in the lead role of the television film Pleasure Cove (1979). He also appeared as himself in Tim Burton's film Mars Attacks! (1996).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name= czone>Template:Cite newsTemplate:CbignoreTemplate:Subscription required</ref> In 1970, he received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy nomination for hosting the television series This Is Tom Jones. In 2012, he played his first dramatic acting role in an episode of Playhouse Presents.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He received a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1966, an MTV Video Music Award in 1989, and two Brit Awards: Best British Male in 2000 and Outstanding Contribution to Music in 2003. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 for services to music. He experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 2010s due to his role as a coach on the talent show The Voice UK (2012–2015, 2017–present).
Early life
[edit]Thomas John Woodward<ref name="closeup">Template:Cite book</ref> was born at 57 Kingsland Terrace in Treforest in Wales on 7 June 1940,<ref>Entry of Birth, sub-district of Pontypridd in the County of Glamorgan</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite episode</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Biography, TomJones.com Retrieved 2 April 2020</ref> the son of Freda Jones (1914–2003) and coal miner Thomas Woodward (1910–1981).<ref name="closeup" /> He is primarily of English descent; his maternal grandfather was Welsh, his maternal grandmother was born in Wales to English parents from Somerset and Wiltshire, his English paternal grandfather was from Gloucestershire, and his English paternal grandmother was from Wiltshire.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> He attended Wood Road Infants School, Wood Road Junior School, and Pontypridd Central Secondary Modern School.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He began singing at an early age; he would regularly sing at family gatherings, weddings, and in his school choir. He did not like school or sports, but gained confidence through his singing talent.<ref name="DIDiscs TJ">Template:Cite episode</ref> At the age of 12, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Many years later, he said, "I spent two years in bed recovering. It was the worst time of my life." During this time, he could do little else but listen to music and draw.<ref name="closeup" />Template:Rp
Career
[edit]Rise to fame
[edit]Jones's voice has been described as a "full-throated, robust baritone".<ref name="allmusic"/> According to Jones himself, his young voice was a tenor voice. He said: "What you lose on the top end, you gain on the bottom end. I used to be able to hit a top C when I was young now it's a B flat."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He became the frontman in 1963 for Tommy Scott and the Senators, a Welsh beat group. They soon gained a local following and reputation in South Wales. In 1964, the group recorded several solo tracks with producer Joe Meek, who took them to various record labels, but they had little success. Later that year, Decca producer Peter Sullivan saw Tommy Scott and the Senators performing in a club and directed them to manager Phil Solomon, but the partnership was short-lived.
The group continued playing gigs around South Wales. Gordon Mills met Jones, became his manager, and introduced him to London, where Mills worked in music.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Mills renamed him "Tom Jones", to exploit the popularity of the Academy Award-winning 1963 film.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Eventually, Mills got Jones a recording contract with Decca. His first single, "Chills and Fever", was released in late 1964. It did not chart, but the follow-up, "It's Not Unusual", became an international hit after offshore pirate radio station Radio Caroline promoted it. The following year was the most prominent of Jones's career, making him one of the most popular vocalists of the British Invasion. In early 1965, "It's Not Unusual" reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom and the top ten in the United States. During 1965, Mills secured a number of film themes for Jones to record, including the James Bond film Thunderball,<ref name="BioPart3"/> and What's New Pussycat? (written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David).<ref name="BioPart3"/><ref name="McEvoy">Template:Cite news</ref> Jones was sceptical about the latter song when first approached about it. He said when it was offered to him, he felt it was "sort of a backhanded compliment: 'I've got to have you, but this is the song.Template:'"<ref name="McEvoy" /> Jones said it took convincing from Bacharach to perform "What's New Pussycat?":
Jones was awarded the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1966.<ref name="Grammy">Template:Cite magazine</ref> During a filming break at Paramount Studios (1965) in Hollywood, Jones met Elvis Presley for the first time;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> he recalls Presley singing, "With These Hands" as he walked towards him from the film set.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The two men became good friends.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 1966, Jones's popularity began to slip somewhat, causing Mills to reshape the singer's image into that of a crooner. Jones also began to sing broader material. Jones soon topped UK charts and reached the top 40 in US charts. Over the next few years he scored a string of hits on both sides of the Atlantic, including "I'll Never Fall in Love Again", "I'm Coming Home", and "Delilah", each of which reached No. 2 in the UK chart.<ref name="Tom Jones Nostalgia Central">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1967 to 1987
[edit]In 1967, Jones performed in Las Vegas for the first time, at the Flamingo.<ref name="BioPart3">Template:Cite web</ref> His performances and style of dress became part of his stage act, and increasingly featured his open, half-unbuttoned shirts and tight trousers. He soon chose to record less and focus on club performances. Jones played in Las Vegas at least one week each year until 2011.
Jones had an internationally successful television variety show titled This Is Tom Jones from 1969 to 1971. The Associated Television-produced show was worth a reported Template:US$ to Jones over three years. It was broadcast by ITV in the UK and by the American Broadcasting Company in the US. As a result of the show, Jones was nominated in 1970 for a "best actor" Golden Globe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> From 1980 to 1981, he had a second television variety show, Tom Jones, which was produced in Vancouver, Canada, and lasted 24 episodes.Template:Citation needed Both television shows were the subject of litigation with the original licence holder C/F International. Template:As of, C/F International was a secured judgment creditor of Classic World Productions and its principal, Darryl Payne, for approximately Template:US$, and was the principal secured creditor at the time of the subsequent bankruptcy filing by the company. C/F International's action against Classic World Productions and owner Darryl Payne was based on unpaid royalty payments from This Is Tom Jones<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and related recordings.<ref>C/F International Inc. v. Classic World Productions et al. Template:Webarchive, New Jersey District Court, Judgement of 16 February 2006 at page 2; Websupp.org.</ref> This Is Tom Jones is sold on DVD by Time Life rather than by Classic World Productions or C/F International.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
C/F International's rights to later Tom Jones material were also disputed. In March 2007, Tom Jones and Tom Jones Enterprises sued C/F International to stop the company from licensing sound recordings made from the 1981 Tom Jones series. It was contended that any rights that C/F International had to license the Tom Jones show did not include the right to make and license separate recordings of the performances on the show, and that any rights that C/F International had in the Tom Jones show no longer existed because of numerous breaches of contract.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Examples of contentious CDs are Live on the Tom Jones Show, released in 2006, and Greatest Hits Live, originally issued by C/F International in 1981 and later licensed to and issued by Prism Leisure Corporation as 30 Greatest Hits – Live in Concert.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 26 April 1970, CBS released the Raquel Welch television special Raquel! directed by David Winters, in it Jones is among guests.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In the 1970s, Jones toured with the female singing groups Quiet Elegance and the Blossoms as his backing groups. He had a number of hit singles, including "She's a Lady", "Till", and "The Young New Mexican Puppeteer", but in the mid-1970s his popularity declined. He did, however, have a big hit in 1976 with "Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow", which went to No. 1 on the US country chart, No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 40 on the UK Singles Chart.
In 1972, he co-starred with Jennifer O'Neill in David Winters's television special The Special London Bridge Special.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Jones explained that he accepted to do the special because it allowed him to continue doing television without having the confinement of a series.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
In 1976, Jones was set to make his film debut in the film Yockowald, in which he was to play a CIA assassin. The film was shelved after the production ran out of money three weeks into filming.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1979, Jones made his acting debut in Pleasure Cove, an ABC television film which was a pilot for a potential television series but was not picked up. In the film, he played a suave conman named Raymond Gordon staying at the holiday island resort of the title. His co-stars in the film included Constance Forslund, Tanya Roberts and David Hasselhoff.<ref name="closeup" />Template:Rp In 1984, he guest-starred in an episode of the television series Fantasy Island as an accountant who fantasises about living life as Dick Turpin.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In the early 1980s, Jones started to record country music. From 1980 to 1986, he had nine songs in the US country top 40, yet failed to crack the top 100 in the UK or the Billboard Hot 100.<ref name="Tom Jones Discography">Template:Cite web</ref> Jones's manager Gordon Mills died of cancer on 29 July 1986, and Jones's son Mark became his manager.<ref name="closeup" />Template:Rp
In 1987, Tom Jones re-entered the singles chart with "A Boy from Nowhere", which went to No. 2 in the UK. The following year, he covered Prince's "Kiss" with Art of Noise. The song reached No. 5 in the UK and No. 31 in the US. The video for "Kiss" was played frequently on MTV and VH1, and won the MTV Video Music Award for Breakthrough Video.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1990s resurgence
[edit]Jones received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1989, located at 6608 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, in front of Frederick's of Hollywood. He collaborated with Van Morrison on his album Carrying A Torch, released in 1991 on Dover Records, featuring Jones's cover of Morrison's title track. Partly recorded at Townhouse Studios in London, Morrison wrote and produced four songs for the album.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref>
In 1992, he made his first appearance at the UK's Glastonbury Festival, and in 1993 he appeared as himself in episodes of two popular US sitcoms, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ("[[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air season 3|The Template:Sic]]") and The Simpsons ("Marge Gets a Job").
Jones signed with Interscope Records in 1993 and released the album The Lead and How to Swing It the following year. The first single, "If I Only Knew", went to No. 11 in the UK.<ref name="Tom Jones Discography"/> Jones performed the song at the 1994 MTV Europe Music Awards, for which he also served as host. In 1997 Jones recorded a cover of Randy Newman song "You Can Leave Your Hat On" for the soundtrack of The Full Monty.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1996, Jones appeared as himself in Tim Burton's ensemble science-fiction comedy film Mars Attacks!. A scene in the film features him performing on stage when aliens attack and he manages to escape with a gun.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
In 1999, Jones released the album Reload, a collection of cover duets with artists such as the Cardigans, Natalie Imbruglia, Cerys Matthews, Van Morrison, Mousse T, Portishead, Stereophonics and Robbie Williams. The album went to No. 1 in the UK and sold over 4 million copies worldwide.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Five singles from Reload charted in the UK top 40.<ref name="Tom Jones Discography"/><ref name="Tom Jones Bio">Template:Cite web</ref> The single "Sex Bomb" was released in early 2000 and became the album's biggest single, reaching No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart.
Into the 21st century
[edit]US President Bill Clinton invited Jones to perform on New Year's Eve at the 2000 millennium celebrations in Washington, D.C. In 2000, Jones garnered a number of honours for his work, including a BRIT Award for Best British Male.<ref name="Brits">[1]Template:Dead link</ref> He was also hired as the new voice of Australia's National Rugby League, singing in an advertisement to market the 2000 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2002, Jones released the album Mr. Jones, which was produced by Haitian-American rapper Wyclef Jean. The album and the first single, "Tom Jones International", were top 40 hits in the UK.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Jones received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music in 2003.<ref name="Brits"/> The following year he performed "You Can Leave Your Hat On" with the Pussycat Dolls and Carmen Electra on the seventh annual Vh1 Divas concert. The only male guest part of that year's lineup; which included Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, and Debbie Harry among many others; his cover of "Kiss" was included in an 80s finale medley. Later that year, he teamed up with pianist Jools Holland and released Tom Jones & Jools Holland, a roots rock 'n' roll album. It peaked at No. 5 in the UK.<ref name="Tom Jones Discography"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 28 May 2005, in celebration of his upcoming 65th birthday, Jones returned to his homeland to perform a concert in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd, before an audience of about 20,000. This was his first performance in Pontypridd since 1964.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> That same year, the BBC reported that Jones was Wales's wealthiest entertainer, having amassed a fortune of £175,000,000.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Jones collaborated with Australian pop singer John Farnham in 2005 and released the live album John Farnham & Tom Jones – Together in Concert. The following year, Jones worked with Chicane and released the dance track "Stoned in Love", which went to No. 7 in the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="Tom Jones Discography"/>
Jones, who had been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1999, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 at Buckingham Palace for his services to music.<ref name="BBC2006">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After receiving a knighthood, Jones stated: "When you first come into show business and get a hit record, it is the start of something. As time goes by it just gets better. This is the best thing I have had. It's a wonderful feeling, a heady feeling."<ref name="BBC2006"/>
2007–2009
[edit]
On 1 July 2007, Jones was among the artists who performed at Wembley Stadium at the Concert for Diana, joined on stage by guitarist Joe Perry of Aerosmith and soul singer Joss Stone. In addition to performing some of his own songs, the group covered the Arctic Monkeys song "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A boxing fan, Jones has performed national anthems before a number of boxing matches. He sang "God Save the Queen", the national anthem of the United Kingdom, before the Floyd Mayweather-Ricky Hatton fight in 2007; he sang "Template:Lang", the Welsh national anthem, at the Bernard Hopkins-Joe Calzaghe fight between fellow Welshman Joe Calzaghe and Bernard Hopkins in 2008; and he sang "God Save the Queen" before the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight in 2009.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2008, he released 24 Hours on S-Curve Records, his first album of new material to be issued in the United States for over 15 years. Jones, who was still performing over 200 dates a year as he approached his seventieth birthday, set out on a world tour to promote the album. "The fire is still in me. Not to be an oldie, but a goodie. I want to be a contender", Jones said.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Also in 2008, Jones was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame. On 16 November 2008, he was invited to perform on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing; he performed the debut single from 24 Hours, "If He Should Ever Leave You", which was named the ninth-best song of 2008 by Spinner.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:YouTube</ref> One of the songs from 24 Hours, "Give a Little Love", would later be featured in the first trailer for the 2010 comedy film, Little Fockers.
In March 2009, Jones went to the top of the UK Music Charts for the third time in his career with a cover of "Islands in the Stream", sung with Ruth Jones, Rob Brydon and Robin Gibb, who co-wrote the original with his brothers Barry and Maurice. The record, which was inspired by the song's having featured in the BBC's hit sitcom Gavin & Stacey, was released in aid of Comic Relief and reached No. 1 in March 2009.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> This was his first UK chart topper since "Green, Green Grass of Home" in 1967, setting a new record of 42 years between two UK number ones; this record would be surpassed by Kate Bush when "Running Up That Hill" topped the charts in 2022, a 44-year gap between number ones.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2010–2020
[edit]
Jones's album Praise & Blame was released on 26 July 2010. The album, consisting primarily of gospel and blues songs, included covers of songs by Bob Dylan, John Lee Hooker and Billy Joe Shaver, and featured guest musicians such as Booker T.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 7 June 2010, which was Jones's seventieth birthday, the single "Burning Hell", a cover of the John Lee Hooker song from the Praise & Blame album, was released. In July 2010, it was reported that David Sharpe, vice-president of Island Records (to whom Jones had moved, from EMI, for £1.5m in October 2009), had told his colleagues over email to "pull back this project immediately or get my money back" and asked whether the spiritually themed record had been a "sick joke".<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Jones later strongly criticised Sharpe and said that he was furious about the leaked email.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In July 2010 Jones appeared on the penultimate episode of Friday Night with Jonathan Ross and performed "Burning Hell". In August 2010, Praise & Blame debuted at No. 2 on the UK album chart.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By 2010 Jones had sold a total of over 100 million records.<ref name="3News_142546">Template:Cite news</ref>
On 11 September 2010 Jones performed for an audience of 50,000 at the Help for Heroes charity concert at Twickenham Stadium performing "Strange Things Are Happening Every Day" and his hit "Green, Green Grass of Home". On 22 September, Jones appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In May 2011 Jones appeared as a guest vocalist on the debut album Let Them Talk by Hugh Laurie. On 15 May 2011, he appeared alongside Laurie in the UK ITV series Perspectives, singing music from the album in New Orleans.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 25 May 2011, he appeared on American Idol after a medley of his hits performed by the American Idol "Top 13".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Jones released a single on 19 March 2012, produced by former White Stripes frontman Jack White, called Evil.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The single was first made available through independent record shops in 7" vinyl format on 5 March.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> An exclusive three-coloured vinyl was also sold at only one shop – Spillers Records in Cardiff. The shop, which Jones visited as a boy, was founded in 1894 and is listed in Guinness World Records as the world's oldest record shop.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
Jones experienced a resurgence in notability in the 2010s due to his coaching role on the BBC talent show The Voice UK from 2012 (with the exception of 2016).<ref name="autogenerated1">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In March 2012 he became a coach on the show and was joined by will.i.am, Jessie J and Danny O'Donoghue. He mentored Leanne Mitchell to win the first series. Jones returned to coach in 2013, 2014 and 2015. In August 2015, it was announced that Jones's contract with the show would not be renewed and that he would be replaced by Boy George. Jones criticised BBC executives for "sub-standard behaviour", having not consulted with him and informing him only 24 hours before the official announcement.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In May 2012 Jones released the album Spirit in the Room on Island Records/Universal Music. The track listing included covers of songs by Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen and Richard and Linda Thompson, Blind Willie Johnson, Tom Waits and the Low Anthem.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Also in May, he starred in a one-off television drama titled "King of the Teds" which aired on Sky Arts as part of a series of standalone teleplays for Playhouse Presents.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> On 4 June Jones performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert in front of Buckingham Palace, singing "Delilah" and "Mama Told Me Not to Come".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 18 August Jones performed a fifty-minute set at the V Festival's Weston Park site in Staffordshire.<ref>"Liveblog: Relive our V Festival weekend, all of the gossip, pictures and video from the star-studded VIP area". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 22 August 2012.</ref> On 9 September 2012, Jones headlined at BBC Radio 2's Live in Hyde Park festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In May 2014 Jones opened for Morrissey at a special show in the United States.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 27 September 2014, Jones performed at the Australian Football League's pre-game entertainment for the 2014 Grand Final along with Ed Sheeran.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In September 2015 Jones announced the long-awaited release of his album Long Lost Suitcase, on 9 October, through Virgin/EMI. The album was the last in a trilogy, following Praise & Blame (2010) and Spirit in the Room (2012). The track titles are included in chapters of Jones' autobiography Over the Top and Back which was released at the same time. The album was produced by Ethan Johns and included songs by Gillian Welch, the Rolling Stones, Hank Williams and the Milk Carton Kids.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In November 2015 Jones appeared, alongside Rob Brydon, in a special 90-minute show, from the SSE Arena, Wembley, for BBC's Children in Need.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In December 2015 he appeared on the BBC's Jools' Annual Hootenanny, on duetting with Paul Weller.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2017 Jones returned to The Voice as a coach for series 6.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2018 he embarked on a live summer tour, which was planned to run from 1 May to 11 August.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In July, however, many shows were cancelled due to sickness or bad weather.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2020 Jones again appeared on the BBC's Jools' Annual Hootenanny, broadcast on New Year's Eve, on which he duetted with Jools Holland<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> and with Celeste.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
2021–present
[edit]In January 2021 Jones announced Surrounded by Time, his fourth covers album to be produced by Ethan Johns, alongside the release of a new single, his rendition of Todd Snider's "Talking Reality Television Blues".<ref name="Surrounded by Time">Template:Cite news</ref> In March he appeared on Later... with Jools Holland where he sang "I'm Growing Old" from that album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album was released on 23 April.
On 17 and 18 June 2022 Jones appeared at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff alongside Stereophonics, whose Saturday concert was broadcast live on BBC Two.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 3 September 2022, Jones performed "I Won't Crumble With You If You Fall", taken from his Surrounded by Time album, on The Voice UK.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After the performance, Jones explained the meaning behind the song: "My wife, she was dying of lung cancer [...] I was always able to fix stuff, I was always able to do things, if she needed me for anything I was always there, but she said 'you can't crumble with me, don't fall with me now, you've done everything you can, you must carry on and do what you do' [...] When I heard it I thought, 'My God it's like this was written for this situation'. It's a lovely song."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Within 24 hours, the song had peaked on the UK iTunes chart at number 1.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The song debuted at number 3 on the UK Official Singles Downloads Chart on 9 September 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Personal life
[edit]Jones was married to his school girlfriend, Melinda Rose "Linda" Trenchard, from 2 March 1957 until her death from cancer on 10 April 2016.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They were married at the age of 16 when she became pregnant; their son, Mark, was born shortly after the wedding.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> To support his young family, Jones worked in construction and at a glove factory before finding success as a singer.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He stayed married to Trenchard despite his many well-publicised infidelities.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After his wife's death, Jones sold the family's Los Angeles mansion and its contents (apart from treasured photos) and moved into an apartment in London, which was his wife's dying wish.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Jones has stated that he had sex with up to 250 groupies a year at his peak of fame.<ref name= czone /> He had affairs with famous American women such as singer Mary Wilson, presenter Charlotte Laws,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and former Miss World Marjorie Wallace (engaged at the time to American race car driver Peter Revson).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Actress Cassandra Peterson (better known as her character Elvira, Mistress of the Dark) revealed in 2008 that she lost her virginity to Jones, calling the experience "painful and horrible" and stating that she required stitches afterwards.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> One of his affairs resulted in a son. While on tour in the United States in October 1987, he had a brief relationship with model Katherine Berkery, who later discovered she was pregnant. After a legal battle that included DNA testing, a U.S. court ruled in 1989 that Jones was the boy's father. He denied the court's findings until 2008, when he admitted they were true but expressed no interest in meeting his son, singer Jonathan Berkery.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Following the UK's 1974 election of a Labour government, Jones became a tax exile to avoid a 98% income tax.<ref name="closeup"/> In 1976, he purchased the mansion at 363 Copa De Oro Road in the East Gate Bel Air area of Los Angeles from Dean Martin for $500,000.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He sold it to Nicolas Cage in 1998 for a reported $6.4 million.<ref name="Tom Jones Bio"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Jones met his idol Elvis Presley in 1965 at the Paramount film stage, when Elvis was filming Paradise, Hawaiian Style.<ref name="rollingstone2015" /><ref name="BioPart3" /> They became good friends, spending more time together in Las Vegas singing and carousing until the early hours at Presley's private suite. The friendship endured until Presley's death in 1977.<ref name="BioPart3" /> One year after the death of Jones' wife, rumours began that he had started dating Presley's wife Priscilla. In 2021, he said they had known each other since the 1960s and simply enjoyed spending time together.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> People had thought they were dating because they had been seen together dining and at Jeff Franklin's house.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2015, Jones' autobiography Over the Top and Back was published by Michael Joseph.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Reviewing the book in the Daily Express, Clair Woodward said, "In the tradition of so many autobiographies these days, Tom Jones's doesn't tell you what you really want to hear. [...] What you are left with is a riotously enjoyable story of Jones 'The Voice' which nicely doubles as the story of British pop and light entertainment from the Sixties onwards."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2021, Jones revealed that he uses inversion therapy to stay in good health.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Artistry and influence
[edit]Jones' singing style developed out of the sound of American soul music. His early influences included blues, R&B, and rock and roll singers such as Little Richard, Solomon Burke, Jackie Wilson, Brook Benton, Elvis Presley (his idol and later close friend), and Jerry Lee Lewis.<ref name="rollingstone2015">Appleford, Steve "Tom Jones on Meeting Elvis, Recording With Bacharach, 'Panty Magnet' Phase" Template:Webarchive. Rolling Stone. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.</ref>
Space and Cerys Matthews released "The Ballad of Tom Jones", a song about a fighting couple who are calmed down by listening to Jones's music on the radio. The song reached No. 4 in the UK in 1998.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
A musical, Tom: A Story of Tom Jones, based on his life and recordings, produced by Theatr na nÓg, opened at the Wales Millennium Centre in March 2016.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Another jukebox musical, What's New Pussycat? based on Henry Fielding's 1749 novel The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (set in the 1960s) which uses Jones' music opened at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in October 2021 to critical acclaim. It is written by Joe DiPietro, directed by Luke Sheppard, and choreographed by Arlene Phillips.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Similar to Presley with his impersonators, Jones has his own imitators around the world.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In the 2006 film Flushed Away, the main character, Roddy, is mistaken for Jones by another character while Roddy performs "She's a Lady". Jones' song, "What's New Pussycat?", is played during the ending credits.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In the video game Team Fortress 2, the Scout character is a collector of Tom Jones merchandise, and Jones is depicted being murdered by the Soldier character in the tie-in comics. The Spy character later uses his shape-shifting ability to convince the Scout that Jones is his father. Jones is also depicted using the phrase "What's new pussycat?" several times.<ref>Team Fortress 2, 10 January 2017 – TF Comics 6: The Naked and the Dead</ref>
Discography
[edit]Template:Main Studio albums Template:Div col
- Along Came Jones (1965, UK)
- It's Not Unusual (1965, US)
- What's New Pussycat? (1965, US)
- A-tom-ic Jones (1966, UK & US versions different)
- From the Heart (1966, UK)
- Green, Green Grass of Home (1967, UK & US versions different)
- Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings (1967, US)
- 13 Smash Hits (1967, UK)
- The Tom Jones Fever Zone (1968, US)
- Delilah (1968, UK)
- Help Yourself (1968)
- This Is Tom Jones (1969)
- Tom (1970)
- I Who Have Nothing (1970)
- She's a Lady (1971)
- Tom Jones Close Up (1972)
- The Body and Soul of Tom Jones (1973)
- Somethin' 'Bout You Baby I Like (1974)
- Memories Don't Leave Like People Do (1975)
- Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow (1977)
- What a Night (1977)
- Do You Take This Man (1979)
- Rescue Me (1979)
- Darlin' (1981)
- Tom Jones Country (1982)
- Don't Let Our Dreams Die Young (1983)
- Love Is on the Radio (1984)
- Tender Loving Care (1985)
- At This Moment (titled Move Closer in the US) (1989)
- Carrying a Torch (1991)
- The Lead and How to Swing It (1994)
- Reload (1999)
- Mr. Jones (2002)
- Tom Jones & Jools Holland Template:Small (2004)
- 24 Hours (2008)
- Praise & Blame (2010)
- Spirit in the Room (2012)
- Long Lost Suitcase (2015)
- Surrounded by Time (2021)
Live albums
- Tom Jones Live! At the Talk of the Town (1967)
- Tom Jones Live in Las Vegas (1969)
- Tom Jones Live at Caesar's Palace (1971)
- John Farnham & Tom Jones – Together in Concert Template:Small (2005)
- Tom Jones (promotional The Mail on Sunday CD) (2010)
Box sets
- The Definitive Tom Jones (2003)
- The Complete Decca Studio Albums Collection (2020)
Compositions
[edit]Jones wrote or co-wrote the following songs: "And I Tell the Sea",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Looking Out My Window",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Feel the Rain" from the 2002 Mr. Jones album,<ref name="mrjones">Template:Cite web</ref> "Jezebel",<ref name="mrjones"/> "The Letter",<ref name="mrjones"/> "Younger Days",<ref name="mrjones"/> "Tom Jones International",<ref name="mrjones"/> "Holiday",<ref name="mrjones"/> "The Road",<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Cbignore</ref> "24 Hours",<ref name="24h">Template:Cite web</ref> "Seasons",<ref name="24h"/> "We Got Love",<ref name="24h"/> "Seen That Face",<ref name="24h"/> "Give a Little Love",<ref name="24h"/> "If He Should Ever Leave You",<ref name="24h"/> "Whatever it Takes",<ref name="mrjones"/> and "Traveling Shoes" from the 2012 album Spirit in the Room.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | What's New Pussycat? | Theme Singer | |
| Promise Her Anything | |||
| Thunderball | |||
| 1972 | The Special London Bridge Special | A fantasy story about London Bridge being brought to America | |
| 1974 | On Happiness Island | BBC special | |
| 1979 | Pleasure Cove | Raymond Gordon | US TV Movie |
| 1984 | Fantasy Island | Dick Turpin | (ABC series; season 7, episode 19) |
| 1987 | The Grand Knockout Tournament | as himself | TV special |
| 1991 | The Ghosts of Oxford Street | Gordon Selfridge | Christmas TV Movie celebrating the 200th anniversary of London's Oxford Street |
| 1992 | The Simpsons | as himself | "Marge Gets a Job" |
| 1993 | Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Season 3 episode 18 : The Template:Sic | |
| 1994 | Silk n' Sabotage | Photographer | |
| 1995 | The Jerky Boys: The Movie | as himself | |
| 1996 | Mars Attacks! | ||
| 1999 | Agnes Browne | ||
| 2000 | The Emperor's New Groove | Theme Song Guy | Animated film |
| 2004 | Duck Dodgers | as himself | "Talent Show A Go-Go"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Better source needed |
| 2012 | Playhouse Presents | Episode: "King of the Teds" | |
| 2012–15, 2017–present | The Voice UK | Coach or "judge" and mentor for artists, Seasons 1 until 4 and 6 onwards | |
| 2014 | Under Milk Wood | Captain Cat | TV film |
| Superheroes Unite for BBC Children in Need | as himself | TV film |
Accolades
[edit]Amadeus Austrian Music Awards
[edit]Template:Award table !Ref. |- | 2001 | Reload | Best International Pop/Rock Male | Template:Nom | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:End
Brit Awards
[edit]Template:Award table !Ref. |- | 1977 | Himself | British Male Solo Artist | Template:Nom |<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |- | 1989 | "Kiss" (with Art of Noise) | rowspan="2"|British Single of the Year | Template:Nom | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |- | 1995 | "If I Only Knew" | Template:Nom | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |- | 2000 | rowspan="2"|Himself | British Male Solo Artist | Template:Won |<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |- | 2003 | Outstanding Contribution to Music | Template:Won |<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |- | 2010 | The Full Monty Performance | Live Performance of 30 Years | Template:Nom |<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:End
Danish Music Awards
[edit]Template:Award table |- | 1995 | Himself | Best International Male | Template:Won |<ref>[2]Template:Dead link</ref> Template:End
NME Awards
[edit]Template:Award table !Ref. |- | 1968 | rowspan="2"|Himself | rowspan="2"|Best Male Singer – UK | Template:Won | rowspan="2"|<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |- | 1969 | Template:Won Template:End
Silver Clef Awards
[edit]Template:Award table !Ref. |- | 2001 | rowspan="2"|Himself | Silver Clef Award | Template:Won | rowspan="2"|<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |- | 2014 | Outstanding Achievement Award | Template:Won Template:End
- 1966: Grammy Award for Best New Artist
- 1966: Grammy Award nomination for Contemporary Rock & Roll Male Vocal Performance for "What's New Pussycat?"
- 1966: Grammy Award nomination for Contemporary Rock & Roll Single for "It's Not Unusual"
- 1970: Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy for This Is Tom Jones
- 1970: Ivor Novello Award for International Artist of the Year<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1989: MTV Video Music Award – Breakthrough Video for "Kiss"
- 1989: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- 1999: appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2006: Knighthood for "services to music"
- 2017: Bambi Award in the category "legend"
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Further reading
[edit]- Bert Schwartz: Tom Jones (Grosset & Dunlap, New York City, 1969) 76-103307
- Peter Jones: Tom Jones: Biography of a Great Star (Avon Publishing, 1970 (1st edition), 1971)
- Colin MacFarlane: Tom Jones: The Boy from Nowhere (W. H. Allen & Co., London, 1988 St Martins Press, New York) Template:ISBN
- Stafford Hildred & David Gritten: Tom Jones: A Biography (Isis Large Print Books, April 1991) Template:ISBN
- Roger St. Pierre: Tom Jones: Quote Unquote (Parragon Book Service Ltd, Great Britain, 1996) Template:ISBN
- Stafford Hildred & David Gritten: Tom Jones: A Biography (revised edition '98) (Sidgwick & Jackson, 1998 an imprint of Macmillan Publishers Ltd) Template:ISBN
- Chris Roberts: Tom Jones (1st edition) (Virgin Books, 1999 an imprint of Virgin Publishing Limited) Template:ISBN
- Lucy Ellis, Bryony Sutherland: Tom Jones: Close Up (Omnibus Press, 2000) Template:ISBN (HC) Template:ISBN (Pb)
- Robin Eggar: Tom Jones: The Biography (1st edition) (Headline Book Publishing, 2000) Template:ISBN
- Woodward v. Berkery, 714 So.2d 1027 (Fla.App.4thDist. 1998)
- Tom Jones: Over the Top and Back: The Autobiography (Michael Joseph, 8 October 2015) Template:ISBN
External links
[edit]- BBC Tom Jones Biography
- BBC Wales Music
- Transcript of interview with Larry King 7 November 2003
- Template:IMDb name
- Template:Discogs artist
- Template:Discogs artist as Tommy Scott & The Senators
Template:Clear Template:S-start Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft Template:S-end
Template:Tom Jones Template:Navboxes Template:UK best-selling singles (by year) 1952–1969
- Pages with broken file links
- 1940 births
- Living people
- 20th-century Welsh male singers
- 21st-century Welsh male singers
- Brit Award winners
- British Invasion artists
- Columbia Records artists
- Decca Records artists
- Epic Records artists
- Grammy Award winners
- Gut Records artists
- Interscope Records artists
- Island Records artists
- Jive Records artists
- Knights Bachelor
- Las Vegas shows
- Lost Highway Records artists
- Mercury Records artists
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- Parrot Records artists
- People from Pontypridd
- Polydor Records artists
- S-Curve Records artists
- Singers awarded knighthoods
- Traditional pop music singers
- V2 Records artists
- Welsh autobiographers
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- Welsh expatriate musicians in the United States
- Welsh people of English descent
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- ZTT Records artists