Tom Jones
Tom Jones
Born Thomas Woodward, Jones gained fame for hits such as "It's Not Unusual" and "What's New Pussycat?" He won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1966.
NationalityWelsh
ProfessionPop Singer
Date of Birth7 June 1940
CityTreforest, Wales
growing-up character writing
When you first start off, I know singers who have only been in the business just a short amount of time, and they've already written their autobiography. I didn't want to write it too soon. I wanted to live a while and write about things that I felt were important to me - growing up in Wales, and the characters that I met and listened to.
looking-good dean wells
Dean Martin always dressed very well but then he was a good looking fella with a good physique so he could wear anything.
play voice rugby
I didn't have to play rugby that well, and I didn't have to play cricket that well, because I had this voice.
thinking coal-miners tuberculosis
Oh yeah, I would have been a coal miner, I would think, if I hadn't had tuberculosis when I was 12.
fashion stupid band
I've always worn jewellery but for a time it went out of fashion. Like grungy and punk bands didn't wear jewellery because it was stupid.
eye night thinking
I have had some pretty wild nights! I think the media keeps a very close eye on what people are up to these days. I was out with George Clooney a few nights ago and we had a great time.
love-you cat animal
Pussy cat, pussy cat, I love you, yes I do. You and your pussy cat nose.
thinking firsts towns
I think the first time I ever wore a tuxedo was when I played at the Talk Of The Town in 1967, because it was a nightclub and that was the thing to do.
father class coal-miners
I come from a coal-mining, working-class background. My father was a coal miner.
song trying
You can't lose the essence of a song. I try to enhance it more than anything else.
mean singing firsts
First of all, I love singing. I mean, I get out of bed and I sing. I can't help it.
winning ideas awards
Winning the Outstanding Contribution award is great, because you know you have won in advance. Previously, I have been really nervous during the ceremony because you have no idea if you are going to get called up on stage. This time I could relax and enjoy myself.
singing choir my-own
I didn't like to be restricted, because when you're in a choir, you have a part to sing and you sing it. I always liked singing on my own.
country together kind
When I started off in Wales, I sang and accompanied myself with guitar in the '50s. And then I got a band together, which is a rhythm section, really. I used to do a lot of blues, and rhythm and blues, and '50s rock 'n' roll and country, and all kinds of stuff.