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."
Never
Tom Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What you know is true
Don't have to tell you
I love your precious heart
I
I was standing
You were there
And they could never tear us apart
We could live
For a thousand years
But if I hurt you
I'd make wine from your tears
I told you
That we could fly
'Cause we all have wings
But some of us don't know why
I
I was standing
You were there
Two worlds collided
And they could never ever tear us apart
The lyrics of Tom Jones's "Never" speak to the permanent nature of a true love that has withstood the test of time. From the very first moment the singer laid eyes on the object of his affection, he knew that she would become an integral component of his life. Even though there were naysayers who warned him that she would bring only pain, he refused to listen to them, and instead clung on to her for dear life.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that this love is none other than music itself. The singer speaks of how music has been a constant source of support throughout his life, sticking with him through thick and thin. He describes the many ways in which music has enriched his life, from lifting him up with its highs to comforting him with its lows. He also acknowledges the void that would be created in his life if music were suddenly taken away from him.
Throughout the entire song, it is clear that the singer views music as a companion and a trusted friend – someone who has been with him through every twist and turn of his life's journey.
Line by Line Meaning
From the first time that I heard you I knew
Since the first time I heard you, I realized I was going to be obsessed with you like the blues.
I'd be hooked on you forever like the blues
I knew I would be glued to you forever like the blues genre of music.
People told me you would hurt me, so untrue
I was warned about you, but it turned out to be false because you've stayed with me for all these years.
Cos after all these years, you're the one thing thats still here
You're the one constant thing in my life that has stayed with me through all these years.
Cos of you there's no alone
You have been with me during my lonely times so I don't feel alone anymore.
You've been with me through it all
You've been there for me through everything that life has thrown at me.
Never, never, never, never gonna give you up
I'll never give you up, no matter what happens.
Running through my blood
My attachment to you is so strong that it feels like it's running in my blood.
Never Never Never Never leaving you behind
I'll never leave you behind or abandon you.
Always on my mind
I can't stop thinking about you.
Can't get enough of your highs and your lows
I love experiencing everything about you, even the good and the bad times.
You take me places where nobody goes
You take me on a journey that nobody else can replicate.
And if you went away, I would never be the same
If you ever left, it would devastate me because you're such a huge part of my life.
Oh your sweetness is like sugar on my lips
Your sweetness is like a sweet taste on my lips that I can't get enough of.
When you're not around its your melody that I miss
When you're not here, I miss your presence and the sound of your voice.
Like an old friend you come back to me so quick
You always come back to me quickly like an old friend, even if we've been apart for a while.
And after all this time I've still got you in my life
Even after all these years, you're still in my life and I'm grateful for that.
You and me we're going strong
You and I are going strong and our bond has only gotten stronger over time.
You and me we still belong
We still belong together and our connection is unbreakable.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andrew Charles Farriss, Michael Kelland Hutchence
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Sirtomjones__1
Hello amazing fan.
Thank you for your beautiful comment.
I’ve seen a whole lot of “RIP” attached to my name all over the internet. This is the reason I decided to debunk this false new of my demise.
Late Ton Jones conceived the twist on Romeo and Juliet with composer, John Donald Robb. He died on the 11th of August, 2023 of cancer in his home in Sharon.
Please disregard all the false publications on the internet.I’m still alive and much healthy..
Thank you beloved fan..
@thedebate984
Who’s here in 2024 listening to this beautiful masterpiece
@arminaebrahimsulaiman738
I do! 🖐️👌
@user-fq9vo8qx9b
I still am. Cannot describe what this clip makes me feel. No words. I just weep. No one can sing like this in this day and age. ❤❤❤❤❤
@johndoran3882
The man is a living legend 😊
@bobnorfolk4054
Never get tired of listening ❤❤❤❤❤
@bill_p2074
My wife and I divorced in June of 1967, about the time Tom released this song. This pretty much became my attitude for the next 4 years. The divorce ripped my heart out and I swore I would never have a relationship for love.
@chriscunningham7250
Who is here in 2023 listening to this masterpiece
@valentinarossi9705
Io...❤
@Ji_Hyun_KANG
Me 😊
@nonyabusiness4151
It's November 2023 ~ Cunningham