In his native Wales, he is known as "Jones the Voice." Today, he is one of the most enduring personalities in the music entertainment business. His unique vocal power, ability, and charismatic persona make him one of the most respected, admired and loved performers in modern music.

Tom's unique weighty voice is a baritone to tenor range. He is a vocal powerhouse with the ability to give his audience every ounce of his energy, enthusiasm and concentration. If his delivery is vigorous, he invites his audience in with the vulnerability of his emotional conviction. He is a natural, a Welshman, a worker, an artist.

Tom possesses a wide range of musical expression. He is first and foremost a rocker with a true rhythm and blues soul. In his youth, he was a "Teddy-Boy," a rebel, with not much on his mind but music and sex. His young style and attitude was dominated by the birth of rock 'n' roll. But he had ears and a natural ability that could appreciate and understand the quickly burgeoning styles of popular music. As much time as he spent listening to American and British radio he would spend in the pubs, drinking and singing. He learned he could sing anything, and he learned he could entertain.

Tom has sustained his popularity for more than three decades. His recordings have spanned the spectrum from gospel to pop, rock to standard, rhythm and blues to rock-a-billy, country to contemporary urban sounds. His sensuous performance style is legendary, while his salient grace is that he never takes his image too seriously.

Born Thomas John Woodward in Pontypridd, South Wales, Great Britain on June 7, 1940, his father worked the coal mines of the Rhondda Valley, while his mother tended the house and the two children. The old great Welsh traditions of poetry and song were the love of the laborers-born of their earth, the life of their gatherings, the soul of their hard lives.

Tom was singing at an early age. He sang in the church and with the choir at the Treforrest Secondary Modern School. He would ask his mother to "pull the drapes and announce me," as he sang on his "stage" in the sitting room. A more or less unsuccessful school career ended, as it did for most boys at age 16, with a wife and son to follow at age 17.

Tom brought in money for his new family from an assortment of jobs, including a builder's laborer, a glove cutter, paper miller, and door-to-door vacuum salesman. He sang in the pubs at night, working with local groups. By 1963, he had gained notoriety with his own group, Tommy Scott and the Senators, and was playing regularly in the demanding atmosphere at the working-class clubs and dance halls. Gordon Mills, a man with a solid performance background who had decided to branch into songwriting and management, want to see Tom work. As Mills recalled: "The first few bars were all I needed to hear, they convinced me that here was a voice that could make him the greatest singer in the world."

Mills became his manager, and took him to London to promote him. It was not an easy task, as record companies found his disconcerting. The vocal sound was raucous and too powerful, the performance style too forward and sexual. He sounded black and moved like Presley. The two men persisted though, and in late 1964 landed a record contract. The first single was a flop, consequently Jones told Mills he wanted to try a new song penned by Mills called "It's Not Unusual." Considered "too hot" by the established BBC Radio at the time, it was broken by the pirate off-shore station Radio Caroline. By the following year, the song was an international hit, and found Tom himself opening for the Rolling Stones at London's Beat City and gigging with the Spencer Davis Group. A few huge single hits to follow were "What's New Pussycat," "Help Yourself," "I'll Never Fall In Love Again," and "Without Love." The next few years of recording successes found Tom performing a remarkably varied repertoire. Tom cultivated his natural talent and ability by listening and learning from his favorite artists of the time. His performance inspiration came early from Solomon Burke, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Little Richard, Jackie Wilson, Brook Benton, and many other Blues and R&B greats. The soul of Rock 'n' Roll he found in Jerry Lee Lewis. A long friendship with Elvis Presley was built on mutual respect and admiration. Elvis would warm up his voice to "Delilah" before his own performance, and when "Green Green Grass of Home" hit for Tom in 1966, Elvis would call radio stations repeatedly to request the song.

An avalanche of gold singles and albums were soon to follow: "Delilah," "Help Yourself," "Love Me Tonight," and "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" in 1968, "Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings," and LP's "Tom Jones Live," "Tom Jones in Las Vegas," and "This Is Tom Jones," in 1969. For most of the year, several of the LP's were in the Top 10 Charts in both Europe and the United States.

Continuing into the 70's gold hits came with "I Who Have Nothing," "She's A Lady," and "Tom Jones Live at Caesars Palace." By the end of 1970 Tom has sold over 30 million discs in all categories around the world.

With this tremendous recording success, Tom was able to draw capacity audiences everywhere, from concert halls and arenas in the U.S. and Europe to the showrooms of Las Vegas. His skills as a showman and entertainer developed sharply; his energy, openness and spontaneity charmed critics and audiences alike.

Tom was offered his own television show the summer of 1969. A contract was drawn with ABC that was the largest ever between network and artist. The show's location was split between London and Los Angeles, and included an impressive roster largely suggested by Tom: Aretha Franklin, Burt Bacharach, Elvis and Priscilla Presley, The Triorchy Male Voice Choir, Stevie Wonder, Anne Bancroft, June and Johnny Cash, Charlie Pride, Bob Hope, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Who, Ella Fitzgerald, Kirk Douglas, Elliot Gould, Janis Joplin, Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield, Dick Cavett, Richard Pryor, Roy Clark, Phyllis Diller, Nancy Wilson, Debbie Reynolds, Tony Newely, Sammy Davis, Jr., Julie Prowse, Paul Anka, Ray Charles, Lou Rawls, Tony Bennett, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, George Carlin, Robert Klein, Dick Shawn, Little Richard, Peter Sellers, Bee Gee's, Sonny & Cher, Wilson Picket, The Hollies, Joni Mitchell, Smokey Robinson, The Supremes and Joe Cocker and The Grease Band were but a few of the guests involved.

In 1987 Tom was asked to perform a musical play with a bullfighting theme called "Matador" on the CBS Epic label. The songs of the title role are demanding and a wonderful showpiece for Tom's musical and emotional interpretations. The single from "Matador," "A Boy From Nowhere," reached #2 on the British charts that summer. This prompted insistent requests for "It's Not Unusual" in the London clubs, along with a very successful re-release of the song in the charts. A new interest emerged in the Tom Jones classics, his contemporary interpretations, and a new material amongst a young, very excited generation of fans.

Late in 1988, the British avante-garde techno-pop group The Art of Noise requested a collaboration with Tom on a cover of Prince's "Kiss." The results were sensational and highly contemporary, and the record put Tom back into the Top 10 charts in the European territories as well as the Top 40 in America. The video of "Kiss," produced by Propaganda Films, was seen in strong rotation on both MTV and VH-1, winning the "Breakthrough Video" MTV Award that year. The talents of Tom Jones were once again seen in a format reaching across all demographics worldwide.

In 1991, Tom recorded an album for Chrysalis Records, U.K. The project, entitled "Carrying A Torch," is highlighted by a collaboration with an old friend, Van Morrison. Van wrote, produced and played four songs, while his band provided the backup. The songs were recorded live in one afternoon, resulting in a great experience for all concerned. Although not released in America, this collaboration was acclaimed by critics and audiences as a truly interesting and successful blend of unique talents.

1991 also saw Tom involved in a number of high-quality television productions in the U.K. In May, Tom was invited to perform in aid of Kurdish refugees for The Simple Truth, a multi-media concert from Wembley Arena in London, broadcast by MTV. Backed by members of the Pink Floyd band, Tom gave an exciting and memorable performance in the company of Lisa Stansfield, Sinead O'Connor, INXS, Paul Simon, Whitney Houston, Hammer, Gloria Estefan, and many others. In December, Tom was invited to perform for "The Big 30," a celebration for the 30th Anniversary of Amnesty International. Against assisted by David Gilmore and his band, Tom set a hot tone for his fellow musical guests (Seal, Daryl Hall, Lisa Stansfield, KLF and more) with opening and closing numbers. Ending the year with "The Ghosts of Oxford Street," a new Christmas production conceived and directed by legendary punk impressario Malcolm Maclaren, Tom was cast alongside Sinead O'Connor, Happy Mondays, Kirsty McColl and The Pogues. He sang two songs within the context of the story, including "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" produced by Dave Stewart.

1992 was an exciting year for Tom. His new television series, Tom Jones: THE RIGHT TIME, produced for the national independent ITV network in the U.K. aired in the summer to wide critical and commercial appeal. The six half-hour segments are music-based and designed in a way unique to television formats. Guest artists include: The Chieftains, Joe Cocker, EMF, Erasure, Bob Geldof, David Gilmore, Daryl Hall, Al Jarreau, Cyndi Lauper, Lyle Lovett, Mica Paris, Sam Moore, Shakespears Sister, Curtis Steiger and Stevie Wonder. The series aired in the U.S. on VH-1.

Following production of THE RIGHT TIME, Tom accepted an invitation to perform as the "special guest" at the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, in Somerset, England. Now in its twenty-second year, it is the largest festival in Europe, with four stages that showcase contemporary, alternative, jazz and world-music artists as well as performers of other medium. Tom stunned an audience of 75,000 at sundown, giving perhaps the watershed performance of his latter career. Also that summer, Tom continued to exploit his range and versatility as soloist with The World Choir, a 7,000 massed male-voiced choir, accompanied by the four bands of the Irish, Welsh, Scottish and Coldstream Guards, performed at Cardiff Arms Park.

In November 1992, Tom appeared as himself on the animated hit comedy show The Simpsons. As Marge temporarily finds work at the plant, her boss kidnaps Tom in a plot to seduce her. In the end, Homer makes a chivalrous stand for his wife, and Tom serenades the two of them with "It's Not Unusual."

Wrapping up the year, Tom enjoyed a sold-out critically acclaimed five week tour of the U.K. and Ireland. In aid of the national charity ChildLine, he recorded a wonderful new version of "All You Need Is Love," produced by Dave Stewart. To capture the experience of his 1992 Tour, a live recording was made in London at the Town & Country Club, his first in 23 years. Finally, the year closed with an experience of a lifetime: participation in a live stage performance of Dylan Thomas' "Under Milkwood," directed by Sir Anthony Hopkins, in aid of The Prince's Trust and performed in the presence of HRH.

Tom began 1993 with a recorded version of the Rolling Stones' classic "Gimme Shelter" with alternative band New Model Army, released on the independent label Food Records (EMI) in March. The song is part of a multi-record project that will benefit the national U.K. charity Shelter, which has long worked for the homeless.

Shortly after some promotional efforts in support of THE RIGHT TIME, Tom was invited by Sting and Trudie Styler to participate in an annual show at Carnegie Hall to benefit their charity, the Rainforest Foundation. In an evening of extraordinary performances, he shared the bill with James Taylor, George Michael, Sting, Bryan Adams, Herb Albert, and Tina Tuner. Tom was the surprise sensation of the evening, ripping through several songs with Sting and his band.

In 1994, Tom signed with hot upstart label Interscope Records (Atlantic/WEA) headed by multi-platinum producer Jimmy Iovine. Interscope's diverse roster includes Nine Inch Nails, Helmet, Pop Will Eat Itself, Dr. Dre, Bush and Snoop Doggy Dog. After taking a year to complete the project, Tom's new album is a stunning development of his abilities. The Lead and How To Swing It is produced by some of today's outstanding talents including Trevor Horn, Teddy Riley, Flood and Alan Moulder, Youth and Jeff Lynne. Each producer welcomed the opportunity to interpret Tom's artistry in his own way; the result is a diverse work critically acclaimed as one of the year's best. Once again Tom proves himself as a unique artist - one with a history who is able to renew and reactivate himself with new music, one of the few who is able to bridge decades and genres without being forced or affected.

Also in 1994, Paddy Maloney of the seminal Irish band The Chieftains approached Tom to contribute to their new collaborative project, The Long Black Veil. They approached Tom to contribute to their new collaborative project, The Long Black Veil. The song requested was The Tennesse Waltz, which was recorded, in a fun-filled afternoon at the late Frank Zappa's studio, Utility Muffin Research Kitchen in Los Angeles. Tom's full-throated Celtic version of the country great is among other contributions from Sinead O'Connor, Sting, Mick Jagger, Ry Cooder, Mark Knopfler, Van Morrison, Marianne Faithful, and The Rolling Stones. The skillful musical framework provided by the Chieftains brings out the best in their singers while illustra.

In 1996 Tom contributed to movie tracks with fresh re-make of a classic tune. "Kung Fu Fighting" in collaboration with the techno-punk band Rudy for the movie Supercop starring Jackie Chan. "Mars Attacks" is released in December where Tom plays himself in this sci-fi remake.

In 1997 he did the sound track for the hilarious British hit comedy The Full Monty recording Randy Newman's You Can Leave Your Hat On.

Also in 1997 Tom was featured for the first time in a television commercial for Victoria's Secret. With photography great Herb Ritts directing, Tom shared the spot with supermodels Helena Cristainsen, Tyra Banks, Stephanie Seymour, and Karen Mulder.

In 1998 Tom appears on the Brit Awards where he accepts an award for "The Full Monty" and he and Robbie Williams bring down the house with their duet of "Land of a Thousand Dances." The Brit Awards aired for the first time in the USA in April. Tom goes to Ireland to film his part in the movie "The Mammy" with Angelica Houston. The movie is set to be released in 1999.Tom signs a new record contract with Gut Records of London. A duet album is planned.

In 1999 Tom makes the Honours list with an OBE (Order of the British Empire) award for his contribution to the world of music and entertainment for over 30 years. Tom receives his award from the Queen on March 9th. Tom takes part in a special ad for BBC Wales - Wales and Proud of It. 60 Minutes II does a nice segment on Tom in April. In May Tom gives a midnight performance at the Cannes Film Festival in France to promote the movie "Agnes Browne." Tom appears at the spectacular free gala concert in Cardiff Bay to mark the royal opening of the new Assembly. July - Madame Tussaud Wax Museum opens at "The Venetian" in Las Vegas. Tom is featured in "Las Vegas Legends." Tom's new CD "Reload" is released in the UK on September 27. On October 3 "Reload" enters the UK Charts at #1 and goes Platinum not even after a month to the release date. December - The movie "Agnes Browne" is released to selected theatres in Los Angeles and New York. Tom is invited to sing for the Pope at the annual concert at the Vatican in Rome. Tom is also invited to sing for President Clinton in Washington D.C. on New Year's Eve to ring in the "new" Millennium!

In 2000 Tom celebrates 35 years in show business on March 1. On March 3 Tom wins his first Brit Award for "Best British Male Solo Artist. The movie "Agnes Browne" opens in all theatres on March 3. April - Tom appears on VH1 in a special called "Men Strike Back." Tom makes his second appearance at the Rainforest Foundation benefit concert at Carnegie Hall. Tom received the highest Dutch music award "Edison" for Best International Male Singer for his latest CD "Reload." "Reload" dominates the International charts selling over 2 million copies worldwide and re-entering the UK charts at #1 on 5/8 and 6/11. Tom's hometown had a special celebration at 44 Laura St. on 6/7 in honor of his 60th birthday. HBO series "Sex & The City" includes "Sex Bomb" in their soundtrack.  Tom sets concert record at Cardiff International Arena with seven record breaking appearances.  Tom does six part series on BBC Radio 2 "Tom Jones - In His Own Words."  Tom is listed as the 5th wealthiest rock star by Britain's list of Top 10.  "Sex Bomb" wins "Song of the Year" at the M6 Music Awards in Paris.  Tom wins "Best Male International Artist" at the Spanish Amigo Awards (the equivalent  of the Grammy).  Cerys Matthews and Kelly Jones join Tom on stage during the UK Tour in Cardiff and Kelly also joined Tom on stage in Glasglow.  Disney's "The Emperor's New Groove" is released in the movie theatres on December 15th.  Tom sings "Perfect Day" in this new Disney release.  In Berlin, Germany on 12/18 Tom receives a Bambi Award for "Comeback of the Year 2000."

In 2001 on 3/15 Tom is nominated for the category "International Artist" for Echo.  Other nominees in this category are:  Enrique Iglesias, Mark Knopfler, Santana, and Robbie Williams. Movie - Someone Likes You includes "Burning Down The House" from "Reload" in the soundtrack.  On 5/29 Tom performs with Luciano Pavarotti at his Pavorotti & Friends concert in Mondena, Italy.  Tom performed "Sex Bomb" and sang "Delilah" with Luciano who did his part in Italian.  "Sex Bomb" is nominated for Ivor Novello Award which reflects  the talents of British songwriters and composers.  On 6/3 Tom did a comedy routine at the Amesty International Concert at London's Wembley Arena.  On 6/29 in London, Tom followed in the footsteps of Sir Elton John and The Rolling Stones in winning The Silver Clef Award.  This award honors singers for their contribution to pop music.  On 7/8 Tom wowed a crowd of 100,000 at "Party In The Park" - Hyde Park - London.  This was a charity fundraiser sponsored by Prince Charles.  Tom sang "It's Not Unusual," "You Can Leave Your Hat On," "Mama Told Me Not To Come," and "Sex Bomb."  BBC On-line launched a Welsh Icon section on their web site and the first of these Welsh icons was Tom!  October - BBC Wales launched its new digital TV channel BBC 2W on 11/5. They used Tom's closing words at his Cardiff Castle shows "Cardiff we love you, Wales we love you" to promote their new digital service. November - Top of the Pops - Tom joined Wyclef Jean (formerly of the Fugees) on stage at this year's Top Of The Pops Awards in Manchester, England. Wyclef had been rumored to be joined by a mystery surprise guest, but it wasn't announced that it would be Tom!

In 2002 Tom went to London the early part of March to take part in a Blues Documentary that was filmed by Mike Figgis. Wyclef Jean is writing and producing Tom's new CD.  For the first time in Tom's career he is contributing to the tracks as a writer.  4/24 Tom's Website (tomjones.com) is launched with a new look. 6/3 Tom performs for the Queen at her Jubilee Concert.  Tom sings "Sex Bomb" and "You Can Leave Your Hat On." 6/18 Wyclef Jean releases his CD titled "Masquerade" which includes a duet with Tom singing "What's New Pussycat?"  Hello Magazine - Tom won both polls as favorite act for the Queen's Jubilee Concert. 7/8 Space releases a Greatest Hits CD which includes Tom's "Sunny Afternoon" from "Reload." Tom is #8 on the list of Top 10 Riches Welsh people and Tom is the only one from the music world. 8/24 Tom signs with V2 Records in London for his upcoming CD in the fall.  On 10/21 Tom's first single release from his new CD is released "Tom Jones International."  As Tom's new single is released he received the Q Merit Award in recognition of his longevity, style, and charisma.  On 11/4 Tom's new CD "Mr. Jones" is released in the UK and Europe receiving rave reviews from top UK Music critics.  Also on 11/4 the DVD/Video of Tom's Cardiff Concert that was taped on 7/28/01 is released.  Title is called "Tom Jones Live at Cardiff Castle."  On 11/22 The Brit Awards announces that Tom will be honored at the 2003 Brit Awards for his outstanding contribution to the music world.

In 2003 Tom receives another Brit award for his "Outstanding Contribution to Music" on February 20 in London.  Tom dedicated his award to both is parents who were his biggest fans and supporters.  February 20 was Tom Jones Day in Wales in honor of Tom receiving the highest of Brit Awards.  Tom's music was played all day on BBC Radio 2.  "New" Greatest Hits, which includes the "Reload" hits, is released on February 17 and "Black Betty" is the second single released from "Mr. Jones" CD on February 24. On May 23 A&E airs Tom's concert "Live at Cardiff Castle.  On June 23 Planet Rock ITV airs a profile on Tom.  Tom records "Duck Dodgers" sung to the "Thunderball" theme for Cartoon Network's upcoming series Duck Dodgers starring Daffy Duck.  The track also features Oklahoma rockers Flaming Lips. On July 4 Tom appears on Cable Meets Mr. Jones on BBC 1 Wales.  This was an hour special with Stereophonics drummer, Stuart Cable. The track also features Oklahoma rockers Flaming Lips. On July 26 Tom is inducted in the Gaming Hall of Fame in Atlantic City for his significant contribution to the gaming industry. In September Tom and Catherine Zeta Jones star in a new TV commercial for T-Mobile. On October 3 Tom is featured in a special documentary about The Blues on PBS.  Mike Figgis directed the British contribution call Red, White & Blues. Figgis asked Tom to front a band of musical luminaries that would act as an illustrative centerpiece of the 90 minutes. On October 14 Reloaded: The Greatest Hits is released in the US. This CD includes Tom's hits from 1964 to 2002 to the most recent UK releases (not available before in the USA) from the multi-platinum Reload album and Tom's most recent release, Mr. Jones.  To promote this CD release Tom appears on Good Morning American October 28 -30, which they call "Tom Jones Week."  On November 7 Tom is Larry King's guest for an hour of interesting conversation.  Tom sings on Regis & Kelly on November 13. Planet Rock's profile on Tom airs in the States on November 16 on The Biography Channel. Tom is Jay Leno's guest on The Tonight Show on December 10 and on December 17 Tom appears on Craig Kilborn's Late Late Show.  A four CD Box Set is released in the UK - The Definitive Tom Jones - 1964-2002 under Universal label.

Tom enjoys a consistent U.S. and international touring schedule throughout the year. He lives with is wife of 46 years, Melinda, in their home in Los Angeles, CA. His son, Mark and daughter-in-law Donna, have given him a grandson, Alexander John, born 6/12/83 and a granddaughter Emma Violet, born 9/15/87. His sister also live in Los Angeles. Since September of 1986 when Gordon Mills suffered an untimely death, Tom has been managed by his son, Mark Woodward, who traveled with him since the age of 17.

Tom Jones continues to both deliver and surprise. His voice has matured to perfection, his performance is as driven as it is seasoned, his persona as bold as it is witty and charming. He is completely devoted to his craft and talent, and hopes only that the quickly changing faces of popular music allow him to grow and be challenged as an artist. This incomparable voice and unique talent will be touching the minds and hearts of music lovers for many years to come.

 

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Updated: 12/15/03