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ATV Icon: Sir Tom Jones

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ATV Icon: Sir Tom Jones

Sir Tom Jones has cemented his place in music history as one of the most successful artists of all time, traversing musical eras and genres, cutting across class divides, and appealing to all genders and ages, mainstream and cutting edge.

Sir Tom has always been about the power of the song, and the power of the voice, qualities that have made him a true legend in the music zeitgeist. Despite the passage of time, Sir Tom Jones continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the music world, and his legacy will undoubtedly live on for generations to come. Jones is undoubtedly one of Britain’s all-time greatest vocal talents. With a career spanning over 60 years, he has sold over a staggering 100 million records, has amassed 36 Top 40 hits.

Born in the mining town of Pontypridd, South Wales, Jones quit school at an early age, working various odd jobs before getting his start as a member of a local band called The Senators, later forming his own group, Tom Jones and the Squires, gigging in clubs and pubs around the local area.

Tom Jones at ATV Elstree

Tom records an edition of ‘This Is Tom Jones’ for ATV/ITV and ABC America/ITC

In the early 1960s, he signed with Decca Records in London, kickstarting a successful and diverse career and achieving international fame with his powerful voice and dynamic stage presence. He had a string of hit songs including “It’s Not Unusual,” “What’s New Pussycat?” “Delilah,” and “Green, Green Grass of Home” which sat alongside his hugely popular 1969-1971 cross-continental ATV show, This is Tom Jones. Produced for ITV in the UK the series aired on ABC stateside. Tom was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for “Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy” in 1969. The show ran for 65 editions.

Jones has always had a fundamental interest in a wide range of music, leading him to work with dozens of iconic collaborators over the years, ranging from Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin to Van Morrison, Dolly Parton and Ed Sheeran, just some amongst many.  Although he is well known for his hits, he is first and foremost a diverse artist with a true rhythm and blues soul.

This Is Tom Jones ran for 65 episodes

Tom continues to appear regularly on ITV with The Voice UK

Tom’s career has been filled with numerous honours and accolades, including a deeply cherished knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2006, multiple BRIT Awards, a Silver Clef Award, the prestigious Music Industry Trusts Award, and a Hitmaker Award from the US Songwriters Hall of Fame.

He has also acted in films such as Tim Burton’s “Mars Attacks,” and “Playhouse Presents: King of The Teds” for Sky Arts. Along with his yearly touring, Jones has continued to be active in the industry as a longstanding coach on The Voice UK and being a valued contributor at a variety of events and broadcasts such as the 25th Anniversary of MusiCares (honouring Bob Dylan) and the 57th Grammy Awards as well as many others for charitable causes.

His 2015 autobiography “Over The Top And Back” was a rollicking best-seller, and his 2021 album release “Surrounded By Time” made him the oldest male to claim a Number 1 spot on the UK Official Albums Chart with an album of new material, overtaking Bob Dylan.

Tom shows no signs of slowing down having performed in 2021 with his Surrounded in Time tour and currently with his Ages & Stages UK Arena Tour announced for December 2023.

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