Who Is Tom Jones?

Tom Jones is a legendary Welsh singer-songwriter who has been performing for over 60 years. Born in June 1940, he rose to fame in 1965 with his hit song ‘It’s Not Unusual’ and went on to become one of the most successful singers of all time. His career has spanned multiple decades, genres and styles. He has released dozens of studio albums, scored hits such as ‘Delilah’ and ‘What’s New Pussycat’, and collaborated with many famous artists such as The Cardigans, Van Morrison and Robbie Williams. He was awarded a knighthood in 2006 for his services to music.

Early Career

Tom’s career started in 1963 when he auditioned for Gordon Mills, a London-based manager. Mills changed Tom’s name to “Tom Jones” and signed him to Decca Records. His debut single ‘Chills And Fever’ was released in 1964 and although it didn't chart very well in the UK, it was a hit in the US. In 1965 he released his signature song ‘It’s Not Unusual’, which became his first top 10 hit in the UK and his first number 1 in the US. This propelled him to international stardom.

Collaborations

Throughout his career Tom has collaborated with numerous artists from different genres, including pop, rock and jazz. In 2002 he collaborated with The Cardigans on their single ‘Burning Down The House’. In 2005 he released an album of duets entitled ‘Duets: Tom Jones & Friends’ that featured collaborations with artists such as Van Morrison and Robbie Williams. He also performed with Stereophonics at Live 8 in London in 2005.

Later Career

Tom continued to record music throughout the 2000s and beyond, often collaborating with younger artists such as Mark Ronson and Jack White. In 2015 he released the album ‘Long Lost Suitcase’ which featured covers of some of his favourite songs. His most recent album is 2018's ‘Surrounded By Time’ which saw him reinterpret some of his biggest hits alongside some new material. To this day he continues to tour extensively around the world. Tom Jones is truly a living legend.