Tom Jones (singer)

Sir Tom Jones OBE
Jones in 2018
Background information
Birth name	Thomas John Woodward
Born	(1940-06-07) 7 June 1940 Treforest, Wales
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1963–present
Spouse(s)	Linda Trenchard ​ ​ (m. 1957; died 2016)​
Website	tomjones.com

Biography

Sir Tom Jones is a Welsh singer whose powerful voice and charismatic stage presence have made him one of the most enduring performers in popular music. He was born Thomas John Woodward on June 7, 1940, in Treforest, Pontypridd, South Wales. Raised in a working-class family, Jones began singing at an early age, performing at local clubs and events.

His breakthrough came in 1965 with the release of the single It’s Not Unusual, which became a number one hit in the UK and a major success internationally. The song launched a career marked by versatility, spanning pop, rock, soul, R&B, country, and gospel. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Jones produced a string of hits including What’s New Pussycat?, Delilah, Green, Green Grass of Home, and She’s a Lady.

Known for his deep, resonant voice and sensual performance style, Jones became a global star, particularly popular in the United States, where he headlined Las Vegas shows for many years. In the 1980s and 1990s, his career was revitalized through collaborations and a willingness to evolve musically. His 1999 album Reload, featuring duets with younger artists, became the best-selling album of his career in the UK.

In later years, Jones earned critical acclaim for more stripped-back, soulful recordings like Praise & Blame (2010) and Surrounded by Time (2021), showcasing his continued vocal power and emotional depth. He has also become a popular television personality, serving as a long-standing coach on The Voice UK.

Knighted in 2006 for his services to music, Tom Jones remains an icon of British music and a symbol of showmanship, reinvention, and vocal excellence. With a career spanning more than six decades, he continues to perform, record, and inspire audiences around the world.

Music (likes)

BBC's Desert Island Discs (2010)

• Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On – Jerry Lee Lewis
• Riders in the Sky – Vaughn Monroe
• The Old Rugged Cross – Mahalia Jackson
• Rock Around The Clock – Bill Haley and His Comets
• Der Fuehrer's Face – Spike Jones and His City Slickers
• I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) – Aretha Franklin
• Black, Brown and White – Big Bill Broonzy
• Bad Penny Blues – Humphrey Lyttelton

Literature (likes)

Miscellaneous

• The Rise and Fall of the British Empire - Lawrence James