Tom Jones
Thomas Jones Woodward
BORN: June 7, 1940, Pontypridd, South Wales
Tom Jones became one of the most popular vocalists to emerge from the British
Invasion. Since the mid-'60s, Jones has sung nearly every form of popular
music -- pop, rock, show tunes, country, dance, and techno, he's sung it
all. His actual style -- a full-throated, robust baritone that had little
regard for nuance and subtlety -- never changed, he just sang over different
backing tracks. On stage, Jones played up his sexual appeal; it didn't matter
whether he was in an unbuttoned shirt or a tuxedo, he always radiated a raw
sexuality, which earned him a large following of devoted female fans who
frequently threw underwear on stage. Jones' following never diminished over
the decades; he was able to exploit trends, earning new fans while retaining
his core following.
Born Thomas Jones Woodward, Tom Jones began singing professionally in 1963,
performing as Tommy Scott with the Senators, a Welsh beat group. In 1964,
he recorded a handful of solo tracks with record producer Joe Meek and shopped
them to various record companies to little success. Later in the year, Decca
producer Peter Sullivan discovered Tommy Scott performing in a club and directed
him to manager Phil Solomon. It was a short-lived partnership and the singer
soon moved back to Wales, where he continued to sing in local clubs. At one
of the shows, he gained the attention of former Viscounts singer Gordon Mills,
who had become an artist manager. Mills signed Scott, renamed him Tom Jones
and helped him record his first single for Decca, "Chills and Fever," which
was released in late 1964. "Chills and Fever" didn't chart but "It's Not
Unusual," released in early 1965, became a number one hit in the U.K. and
a Top Ten hit in the U.S. The heavily orchestrated, over-the-top pop arrangements
perfectly meshed with Jones' swinging, sexy image, guaranteeing him press
coverage, which translated into a series of hits, including "Once Upon a
Time," "Little Lonely One," and "With These Hands." During 1965, Mills also
secured a number of film themes for Jones to record, including the Top Ten
hit "What's New Pussycat?" (June 1965) and "Thunderball" (December 1965).
Jones' popularity began to slip somewhat by the middle of 1966, causing Mills
to redesign the singer's image into a more respectable, mature tuxedoed crooner.
Jones also began to sing material that appealed to a broad audience, like
the country songs "Green, Green Grass of Home" and "Detroit City." The strategy
worked, as he returned to the top of the charts in the U.K. and began hitting
the Top 40 again in the U.S. For the remainder of the '60s, he scored a consistent
string of hits in both Britain and America. At the end of the decade, Jones
relocated to America, where he hosted the television variety program, This
Is Tom Jones. Running between 1969 and 1971, the show was a success and laid
the groundwork for the singer's move to Las Vegas in the early '70s. Once
he moved to Vegas, Jones began recording less, choosing to concentrate on
his lucrative club performances. After Gordon Mills died in the late '70s,
Jones' son, Mark Woodward, became the singer's manager. The change in management
prompted Jones to begin recording again. This time, he concentrated on the
country market, releasing a series of slick Nashville-styled country-pop
albums in the early '80s that earned him a handful of hits.
Jones' next image makeover came in 1988, when he sang Prince's "Kiss" with
the electronic dance outfit, the Art of Noise. The single became a Top Ten
hit in the U.K. and reached the American Top 40, which led to a successful
concert tour and a part in a recording of Dylan Thomas' voice play, Under
Milk Wood. The singer then returned to the club circuit, where he stayed
for several years. In 1993, Jones performed at the Glastonbury Festival in
England, where he won an enthusiastic response from the young crowd. Soon,
he was on the comeback trail again, releasing the alternative dance-pop album
The Lead and How to Swing It in the fall of 1994; the record was a moderate
hit, gaining some play in dance clubs. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music
Guide
Video Biography Music Biography
Curly headed, charismatic, and slightly campy Tom Jones with his trademark
booming baritone is best known as a pop singer/nightclub act from the '60s
on, but he has also appeared in a few films where he generally good-naturedly
parodies himself. He was born Thomas Jones Woodward in Pontypridd, Wales.
He became a singer at age 23, billing himself as Tommy Scott and singing
with the Senators. He went solo the following year and had a brief record
contract, returned to sing in Wales, and by the end of the year he changed
his name to Tom Jones with the help of singer-turned-manager Gordon Mills
who got him a contract with Decca. Jones had his first hit in 1965 with "It's
Not Unusual." His flamboyance and knock-em-dead sex appeal helped make him
a major star with four more hits that year. In 1969, he starred in his own
television variety show This Is Tom Jones. It was alternately filmed in both
London and Hollywood. After the show ended in 1971, he basically left recording
in favor of a career as a Las Vegas nightclub singer. He began his sporadic
film career in the early '70s. In the early '80s, Jones began recording again
and touring. He continues to occasionally appear in feature films and on
television. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide