He rose to fame in the mid-1960s, with an exuberant live act which included wearing tight breeches and billowing shirts, in an Edwardian style popular amongst his peers at the time. He was known for his overt sexuality, before this was as common as it became in subsequent years.
In 1963 he became the frontman for Tommy Scott and the Senators, a local beat group. Clad all in black leather, Tom soon gained a reputation in the South Wales area. The Senators were still all unheard of in London.
In 1964 they laid down a few tracks with maverick Telstar producer Joe Meek, and took them to various labels in an attempt to get a record deal. The plan was to release a single, Lonely Joe / I Was A Fool, but the ever-flighty Meek refused to release the tapes. The group returned to South Wales and continued to play gigs at dance halls and working mens clubs. One night, at the Top Hat in Cwmtillery, Tom was spotted by Gordon Mills, a London-based manager originally from South Wales. Mills became Tom's manager, and took the young singer to London. He also renamed him Tom Jones. The Senators became the Playboys, and later still the Squires.
Jones was awarded the Grammy Award for Best New Artist for 1965. It's Not Unusual, after the song having first been offered to Sandie Shaw. Jones recorded what was intended to be a demo for Shaw, but when she heard it she was so impressed with Jones' delivery that she declined the song and recommended that Jones release it himself. The record was the second Decca single Jones released, reaching number one in the UK charts in 1965. It was also the first hit for Jones in the US, peaking at #10 in May of that year. The single was released in the US on the Parrot label and also reached #3 on Billboard's easy listening chart. Jones used this song as the theme for his late 1960s-early 1970s musical variety series This Is Tom Jones. It has since become Jones' signature song.
In 1965 Tom sang the theme tune to the James Bond film Thunderball.
Jones' recording career slumped on the pop charts during the 1970s and 80s, although he placed 16 singles on the Billboard Country Music charts between 1976 and 1985, the biggest of which was "Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow" (# 1 Country, # 15 pop) in 1977, and his touring continued successfully. When his son Mark became his manager in 1987, his musical style was taken in a different direction. His recording career was revived with his first major hit single in over a decade, "A Boy From Nowhere", taken from the musical Matador. In 1988 he collaborated with The Art of Noise to record Prince's popular song "Kiss". Following this, he started to record in collaboration with a younger generation of musicians
His Reload album, released in 2000, became the biggest hit of his career. An album of cover versions recorded as duets with contemporary artists, using their record producers, and utilising their recording methods, it reached number one in the United Kingdom, and sold over 4 million copies worldwide.[1] In 2002, he released the album Mr. Jones, which was produced by Wyclef Jean and included the singles "Tom Jones International" and "Black Betty". In 2003, he was honored with a BRIT Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. In 2004, his "Sex Bomb" single became a major club hit.
On New Year's Eve 2000 President Bill Clinton invited Tom to perform at the Millennium Celebrations in Washington. Throughout 2000, Tom garnered several honours for his work, including a Brit Award for Best Male. In 2001 Tom toured throughout the Middle East and Europe. In subsequent years Tom recorded albums in collaboration with such artists as Wyclef Jean and Jools Holland.
In celebration of his 65th birthday, on 28 May 2005 Tom returned to his homeland to perform a spectacular concert in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd. This was Tom's first performance in Ponty since 1964.
For his contribution to the recording industry, Tom Jones has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6608 Hollywood Blvd.
In 2005 the album Together In Concert, was recorded live with John Farnham and his band.
He has collaborated with Chicane for "Stoned in Love", a dance track that was released 24 April 2006. It entered at number eight in the UK charts the following Sunday.
In 2007, he signed to New York-based independent label S-Curve, owned by music executive Steve Greenberg.
The singer was awarded an OBE in 1999 and a Knight Bachelor in the 2006 New Years Honours list for his services to music and was subsequently knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, London on 29 March 2006.[7]
On 1 July 2007, Jones was one of the invited artists who performed at Wembley Stadium at the Concert for Diana, joined on stage by guitarist Joe Perry of Aerosmith and British soul singer Joss Stone. He sang the British National Anthem before Ricky Hatton's fight against Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas on 8 December 2007. On 19 April 2008 he sang the Welsh National Anthem at the Calzaghe-Hopkins fight in Las Vegas.
Although his manager and public relations staff have attempted to change his sex-bomb image and neutralize the knicker-throwing fans, to the delight of his audiences Jones has never felt the need to tone down his behavior in the shows. Tom Jones has remained highly respected by other singers and continues to attract audiences of all ages. As of 2008, Jones continues to tour and record. A major portion of the year he regularly performs his show at the MGM Grand hotel, located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, USA. His show at the MGM is performed in a cabaret-style theater. Other venues on his yearly schedule include numerous shows at Atlantic City, NJ and appearances in the USA, United Kingdom and Canada. In February 2007, Jones made a long-awaited South American tour.
On 17 September 2008, Jones announced the release of his retro-tinged album "24 Hours" on S-Curve Records, his first for 15 years in the US; notably, this is the first record in which he's had a direct song-writing input. It was produced largely by drum'n'bass stalwarts Future Cut.
"It's all very well just singing songs," says Jones, "but for this record I really wanted to get properly personal. I've been getting reflective recently, looking over my journey through life, and I wanted to get that down on song. This time I wanted to make something that was all about me, my stories, my life. In other words, you listen to this album and you get the real me."
My Way
Tom Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And so I face the final curtain
My friends, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I've traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
I saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byways
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall
And did it my way
For what is a man, what has he got
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way
The lyrics to Tom Jones's version of the song My Way, originally written by Paul Anka and most famously performed by Frank Sinatra, speak to the idea of living life on one's own terms and facing the end of life with no regrets. The lyrics are reflective in nature, as the singer looks back on their life, but also assertive, as they proclaim their accomplishments and their decision to live life according to their own rules.
The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer acknowledging that the end of life is near and they are ready to face it. They address their friends directly, stating that they will be honest and clear about their thoughts and feelings. The phrase "I did it my way" is repeated throughout the song, becoming a kind of mantra for the singer's perspective on their own life.
The second verse of the song acknowledges that the singer has had some regrets in their life, but that they were not significant enough to dwell on or to impact their overall sense of satisfaction. The third verse hints at the fact that the singer may have faced some challenges along the way, but that they never doubted themselves and always pushed forward. The final verse is perhaps the most philosophical, as the singer muses on the idea of self-determination and the importance of being true to oneself.
Overall, the lyrics to My Way are a celebration of a life lived fully and authentically. The message is inspiring and empowering, encouraging the listener to take ownership of their own life and to make the most of every moment.
Line by Line Meaning
And now the end is near
I am approaching the end of my life
And so I face the final curtain
I will confront death with dignity
My friends, I'll say it clear
I am being honest with my loved ones
I'll state my case of which I'm certain
I will speak about myself confidently
I've lived a life that's full
I have had a fulfilling life
I've traveled each and every highway
I have explored all opportunities that came my way
And more, much more than this
I have accomplished more than just traveling the world
I did it my way
I have lived my life on my own terms
Regrets, I've had a few
I do have a few things I regret in my life
But then again, too few to mention
But they are not significant enough to share
I did what I had to do
I have made the necessary effort and sacrifices
I saw it through without exemption
I have faced my struggles head-on without taking any shortcuts
I planned each charted course
I have carefully planned my life goals
Each careful step along the byways
I have taken each step of my journey with intent and purpose
Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
I admit that there were moments of self-doubt
When I bit off more than I could chew
When I took on more than I was capable of handling
But through it all, when there was doubt
Despite my doubts, I persevered
I ate it up and spit it out
I dealt with the problems head-on and overcame them
I faced it all and I stood tall
I faced my challenges with strength and courage
And did it my way
I have always lived life on my own terms, with no regrets
For what is a man, what has he got
What is the worth of a man's life?
If not himself, then he has naught
If a man cannot be true to himself, then he has nothing
To say the things he truly feels
To express his emotions from the heart
And not the words of one who kneels
And not use scripted or forced expressions
The record shows I took the blows
My life experiences have impacted and molded me
And did it my way
But I have still lived my life on my own terms
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, JEUNE MUSIQUE EDITIONS, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Claude Francois, Gilles Thibaut, Jacques Revaux, Paul Anka
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
June Cabal
Not only his voice, but his heart, soul, deep emotions, and connection! There’s a sense of empathy in his renditions. Love Sir Tom Jones!!
Лариса Мирная
Неповторимый, обаятельный! Поёт сердцем!
cats lover
The best singer ever. What a powerful voice, what charisma !
Bridgit Bardo
There will never be another singer like Tom Jones!Unbelievable voice!
Alexandru Visan
Voice of thunder ! Voice of Mighty God ! Voice of Maximus !!!
Ansel Glasford
@Alexandru Visanlio9
Nola Vout
Completely agree, love him to bits
JMmmn Liberal
I found another singer just as impressive. Type into the search field John Michael - My Way
Heather Rush
Huge Frank Sinatra fan but this version absolutely floored me. The note at the end...Jesus Joseph and Holy Mary. 😳🤯
Nola Vout
Any relative of Jennifer, cos she would have floored it too??? 🤣🤣🤣