Our next artist is Welsh Pop Rock Legend Tom Jones, performing on Sunday 2nd July.
Here are 14 facts you may or may not know about Tom Jones!
- Tom Jones was actually born Thomas Jones Woodward in Pontypridd, South Wales.
- Tom grew up listening to American Blues, R&B, and Rock ‘n’ Roll on BBC Radio.
- He took his first step into music in 1963 when he started up a band called Tommy Scott and the Senators.
- By 1964 Tom had his first number 1 with “It’s Not Unusual” which was originally refused airplay by BBC radio.
- Between 1965 and 1968, Tom released a string of hit singles including: “What’s New Pussycat”, “Thunderball”, “Green, Green Grass of Home”, “Help Yourself” and “Delilah”.
- Tom made his break in America in 1965 when he made his appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show”. This was then following by a Grammy Award win for Best New Artist in 1966. Tom has since won a copious awards over the years.
- Tom then debuted his own TV show in 1969 called “This is Tom Jones” which aired in both the UK on ITV and the US on ABC-TV.
- Tom worked with Gordon Mills (his manager who originally scouted his group) to start a new record, agency and management company called MAM Records.
- Tom and his family moved to Bel Air in America in 1974 and his son Mark joined him on the road as his lighting director and personal assistant.
- Tom covered Funk, Pop, R&B and Rock legend, Prince’s hit “Kiss” collaborating with classic avant-garde techno group ‘Art of Noise’, the song was a big success on both sides of the Atlantic.
- In 1989 Tom received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- In the summer of 1992 Tom played to a rave reception at the world-famous Glastonbury Festival.
- In 1996 Tom had a starring role in the Tim Burton film ‘Mars Attacks!’ alongside Danny DeVito, Jack Nicholson and Annette Benning.
- Tom has performed for the Royal Family on many occasions including The Queen’s Golden Jubilee and a Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium. In 2006 The Queen knighted him Sir Tom Jones.
