Tom Jones
Birthday: 7 June 1940, Pontypridd, Wales, UK
Birth Name: Thomas John Woodward
Height: 179 cm
Tom Jones was born Thomas Jones Woodward in Pontypridd, South Wales, to a traditional coal-mining family, the son of Freda (Jones) and Thomas Woodward. His father was of English descent and his mother ...Show More
[on Solomon Burke] I first saw Solomon at the Flamingo in 1965, the first soul singer I saw live, an Show more
[on Solomon Burke] I first saw Solomon at the Flamingo in 1965, the first soul singer I saw live, and he was amazing. I listened to Otis Redding and Sam & Dave, but he was always the best because he had a melodic way to him, he was more like a proper singer, and you know we became friends right away. He was just such a sweet man. The next time I saw him sing, I can't remember the night club, but it was 1965 again. I went backstage and he gave me a crown and said, 'You can't be the king of rock'n'soul because I am, but you can be the Prince of Wales.' He was such a lovely, lovely man, a family man, with a great sense of humor, a great personality, and a passion for music and people. Hide
[on his move to Los Angeles] The problem I had in the '70s was that the Labour Government got in, an Show more
[on his move to Los Angeles] The problem I had in the '70s was that the Labour Government got in, and the tax went through the roof. I was doing big tours in America at the time, and when I toured America in 1974 my accountant said, 'Think about not coming back, because as soon as you set foot in Britain, everything you've worked for this year will go, the Government will take it all in tax'. Hide
It's one extreme to the other. I've had a lot of crosses and Bibles given to me but then one woman m Show more
It's one extreme to the other. I've had a lot of crosses and Bibles given to me but then one woman made a ceramic penis - she figured that's what mine looked like, I suppose. Hide
When I started recording, I thought I'd be able to do all kinds of records: jazz, country, dance - a Show more
When I started recording, I thought I'd be able to do all kinds of records: jazz, country, dance - and I've always wanted to do a gospel album. Hide
I'm a lyric man - I'm always looking for meaningful songs.
I'm a lyric man - I'm always looking for meaningful songs.
On singing privately with Elvis Presley in Hawaii in 1968: There was a Kris Kristofferson song calle Show more
On singing privately with Elvis Presley in Hawaii in 1968: There was a Kris Kristofferson song called 'Why Me, Lord' and he would sing it continuously. Once he got hold of one that he liked he would never stop. I would try and get out of the suite, because sometimes he would stay on in Vegas, and I was having to do two shows a night, and I'd be singing with him and I'd say, 'I've got to go. The sun's coming up and I've got to rest my voice because I've been singing all night with you.' He'd say OK, and I'd go, and just when I got to the door he'd start again. 'Uh-why me Lord, uh - what have I uh-ever done ...' We'd already done it 30 or 40 times. Hide
You had The Beatles and Stones [The Rolling Stones] covering American R&B, The Pretty Things, The An Show more
You had The Beatles and Stones [The Rolling Stones] covering American R&B, The Pretty Things, The Animals, the whole British Invasion - we were all massive fans of soul music, and Solomon's [Solomon Burke] influence was huge on the songs we chose. Everyone did Cry To Me, that was a staple in my live show, and If You Need Me. We copied his treatment of the songs and the way he handled himself on-stage, he was so expressive. He would suck you right into the song, that's what you wanted to do when you sang. He had a sweetness about his voice as well, he could sing lightly, like on Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms). Hide
He didn't become worldly. He was always in his own world, and enjoying it. When that worked, fine. H Show more
He didn't become worldly. He was always in his own world, and enjoying it. When that worked, fine. He wanted guys around him, wanted to create his own thing, which was a simple life. He loved to play [American] football and he had his own team. But because he was Elvis Presley, no one wanted to tackle him hard. Hide
Not to be a name-dropper but Frank Sinatra once told me: "Tom, you don't have to hit everything hard Show more
Not to be a name-dropper but Frank Sinatra once told me: "Tom, you don't have to hit everything hard. If you keep hammering everything, you're gonna hurt yourself." Hide
[after being formally knighted at Buckingham Palace] It is fantastic. It was lovely to see the Queen Show more
[after being formally knighted at Buckingham Palace] It is fantastic. It was lovely to see the Queen again. I love seeing the Queen and I have always been a royalist. She has got a great smile and her whole face lights up when she smiles. I told her I have been in show business 41 years successfully and she said to me that I had given a lot of people a lot of pleasure. I come from a coal-mining, working-class background. My father was a coal miner. Today is just tremendous. When you first come into show business and you get a hit record, it is the start of something. As time goes on, it just gets better. This is the best thing that I have had. It is a wonderful feeling, a heady feeling. Sometimes you just can't believe it, you think you have been dreaming. Hide
Tom Jones's FILMOGRAPHY
as Actor (231)
Tom Jones'S roles
