Tom Jones

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Tom Jones

Profession: Singer and Actor
Place/Date of Birth: Treforest, Pontypridd, 07 June 2020

Tom quickly earned himself a reputation in the local area and it wasn’t long before he was offered a support slot for Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas in Porthcawl. In 1964 the Radio One DJ Jimmy Saville heard Tom and advised him to put a demo tape together, Jimmy took this to Decca Records and a contract was signed almost immediately. Tom was renamed Tom Jones and he released his first single, Chills and Fever, this first release didn’t have a great impact, but his second, It’s Not Unusual, became iconic.

A string of hits followed, including What’s New Pussy Cat, Thunderball and The Green Green Grass of Home. Tom climbed the stardom ladder and in 1969 was offered a television show in the US, a huge success that featured Janis Joplin, The Moody Blues and The Bee Gees.

In 1974 Tom moved his family to the US and four years later his son joined him on the road, bringing a whole new fresh angle to the act, and gradually became more and more involved in Toms career.

In 1987 A Boy From Nowhere was released and he was propelled back into the mainstream of modern UK music, whilst his 1988 collaboration with The Art of Noise resulted in the massive hit Kiss. The 90’s have seen him here, there and everywhere, with collaborations with music greats, such as Van Morrision, along side appearing at Glastonbury and even featuring in a guest spot on The Simpsons.

Tom was awarded an OBE in 1999, and since there has gone from strength to strength, however his pinnacle award surely occurred in 2006 when he was knighted by Her Majesty The Queen.

Updated January 2007

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