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."
Without Love
Tom Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is the wisdom of a fool
Because tomorrow is promised to no one
You see, love is that wonderful thing
That the whole wide world needs plenty of
And if you think for one minute that you can live without it
Then you are only fooling yourself
Listen, please
That happened to me just the other day
I awakened this morning
I was filled with despair
All my dreams turned to ashes
Now, they're gone
And I looked at my life
It was barren and so bare
Without love, I had nothing, nothing at all
Without love, I had nothing
Without love, I had nothing, nothing at all
I had conquered the world
But what then did I have?
Without love, I had nothing, nothing at all
I once had a sweetheart
Who loved only me
There was nothing that she would not give (no, no)
I was blind to her goodness
And I just could not see
That a heart without love cannot live
Without love, I had nothing
Without love, I had nothing, nothing at all
I had conquered the world
But what then did I have?
Without love, I had nothing, nothing at all
Without love, I had nothing, nothing at all
(Without love)
The lyrics of Tom Jones's song Without Love speak to the essential nature of love and the important role it plays in our lives. The first verse draws attention to the folly of living for today and loving for tomorrow since tomorrow is not promised to anyone. The second verse reflects on the incredible power of love and the fact that the whole world needs it in abundance. The chorus reinforces the idea that without love, we have nothing - no matter how successful we may be in other aspects of our lives.
The third verse tells a personal story of despair and loneliness, emphasizing that without love there can be no true fulfillment in life. The final verse describes a lost love that the singer failed to appreciate at the time, realizing only in hindsight that a heart without love cannot truly live. The song serves as a powerful reminder that love is not something we can afford to take for granted or live without, and that its absence can leave us feeling empty and adrift.
Line by Line Meaning
To live for today and to love for tomorrow
Living only for today and leaving love to tomorrow is foolish because tomorrow is uncertain, and you may not have another chance to experience love.
Is the wisdom of a fool
Thinking that delaying love is wise is a foolish thought.
Because tomorrow is promised to no one
You cannot be sure that you will be alive tomorrow, which is why it's unwise to postpone love.
You see, love is that wonderful thing
Love is an amazing and indispensable thing.
That the whole wide world needs plenty of
Both individuals and the entire world require ample love.
And if you think for one minute that you can live without it
Believing that you can live without love even for a minute is simply deceiving yourself.
Then you are only fooling yourself
The idea of living without love is a complete fallacy.
I'd like to tell you something That happened to me just the other day
Tom Jones wants to share a personal experience that happened recently.
I awakened this morning
He woke up today.
I was filled with despair
He was filled with hopelessness and sadness.
All my dreams turned to ashes
All his aspirations and dreams were shattered.
Now, they're gone
All his desires and aspirations have vanished.
And I looked at my life
He took a moment to reflect on his life.
It was barren and so bare
He realized his life had no happiness or fulfillment.
Without love, I had nothing, nothing at all
He had reached the conclusion that life without love is worthless.
I once had a sweetheart Who loved only me
Tom Jones once had a partner who loved him truly.
There was nothing that she would not give (no, no)
Jones' partner was always there for him, and would do anything to please him.
I was blind to her goodness
Tom Jones was unable to appreciate the love and devotion of his former partner.
And I just could not see That a heart without love cannot live
He failed to grasp that without love, one cannot live a life of fulfillment and happiness.
Without love, I had nothing
Tom Jones reiterates that life without love is meaningless.
(Without love)
The phrase is used as a refrain in the song, and emphasizes the value of love in one's life.
Lyrics © Royalty Network
Written by: Danny C. Small
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rosemarie
What a voice!!!! This is unbelievable vocal talent!! My Mother always played Tom Jones especially on Sunday afternoons, at the time as a child, I couldn't understand why she would play certain songs repeatedly, sit back in her favourite chair and just closed her eyes. As I got older and grew to understand love, I realised that these songs were her therapy when there were problems in her marriage. Apart from the incredible vocals, the lyrics are so deep and relatable!! Sir Tom Jones. I salute you and the body of work you have made...they don't make music like these anymore!!!
ARTIST TOM JONES
Hello amazing fan.
It has come to my notice that some of my fans thinks I was the person who died. Late jones was The one who conceived the twist on Romeo and Juliet with composer John Donald Robb.
He died 11th August, of cancer in his home in Sharon.
I’m still alive and much healthy.
Thanks dear fan..
Ludmila Bulavinceva
Ч😊еловек с большой, доброй душой , может петь так, проникновенно!!!! 😊все интонации голоса Тома, пронизывают до глубины души!!!! Браво!!! Браво!!!! Браво!!! Бис!!!! 🧚♂️🧚♂️🧚♂️🧚♂️🧚♂️
Melinda Mitchell
He has such a powerful voice, yet it is so heartfelt. The guy is amazing.
johnmoris
Yeah you're right Tom Jones is a great singer and I love his voice, okay tell me how long have you been his fan??
Hanna Manyevich
OMG! Divine! Timeless, great and amazing voice! Top class! The greatest ever! Just Bravo dear Tommy!
Mel Matthews
Words cannot describe the magnificence of the voice of Sir Tom Jones.
Cindy Nelson
AGREED !! Well put !!
Guillermo Delgado
Yes, I'm agree with you.
Bernadette
He doesn't need orchestra!!
He fills the whole world!! His voice is beyond!!!!