Tom Jones Biography

Tom Jones began singing in 1963, performing with a Welsh beat group and later recording a series of solo demos which were initially received with moderate interest. But it would be former Viscounts singer Gordon Mills, an artist manager, who would discover Tom Jones’ talents and launch his career.

“Chills and Fever” was released in 1964 to lukewarm response, but "It's Not Unusual” would explode in the year after, becoming a Top Ten hit in the United States. A series of hits followed, including "Once Upon a Time," "Little Lonely One," and "With These Hands." Around the same time, Tom Jones also began recording a series of film themes, including "What's New Pussycat?" (June 1965) and "Thunderball" (December 1965).

For the remainder of the 1960’s, Tom Jones enjoyed steady success in both the United States and in the UK, in a variety of media outlets. This is Tom Jones, a variety program, launched on American television in 1969. The show lasted until 1971 but was such an extraordinary success it established the Las Vegas move Tom Jones would take in the early 1970’s. In the decades following, Tom Jones would also enjoy other avenues for his performances and recordings. In 1993, Jones performed at the Glastonbury Festival in England, and in 1994 he released the dance-pop album The Lead and How to Swing It. In 2005 he completed a live recording for the album Together In Concert, with John Farnham and his band.

Since 2006, Tom Jones has been performing in Las Vegas and in other concert venues internationally. Between 2010 and 2015, he released three new albums—Praise & Blame (2010), Spirit in the Room (2012), and Long Lost Suitcase (2016.) He also published his autobiography, titled Over the Top and Back, in 2015. Tom Jones has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and he was recognized by Queen Elizabeth with a knighthood in 2006.