Tom Jones International

Note added March 2: in an article (probably one of several over the next day or so) the BBC noted the wedding anniversary with lots of quotes from author Robin Eggar on what’s kept the marriage going. Eggar is, overall, not much of an authority on anything but gossip and innuendo and should not be granted any credibiity. But the article does note that it is unusual for a showbiz couple to celebrate a golden anniversary. This photo, from the late 60s, is sweet, isn’t it? For reasons noted below, it’s the only family photo we’ve posted and the only one we intend to post.

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March 1 is not only St. David’s Day, the Welsh National Holiday, but it’s also the 42nd anniversary of the day It’s Not Unusual hit #1. So double
congratulations are in order March 1st.

Ask yourself: How many entertainers are still going strong and are still great 42 —42! — years after their first big hit? Sir Tom Jones is, in a word, amazing.

And, although we are scrupulous in our determination to steer clear of Sir Tom’s personal life, we’ll make an exception: March 2nd is Tom’s and Linda’s 50th wedding anniversary so congratulations are definitely due for that. We wish them all the best. Ddyfodol Hapus! Happy Anniversary

St. David’s Day is named in honor (well, it’s a Welsh day, so we’ll write “honour”) of the patron saint of Wales. Saint David, or “Dewi Sant,” in Welsh, was a sixth century Celtic monk, abbot and bishop. He was the archbishop of Wales, and was one of many saints who helped to spread Christianity among pagan Celtic tribes of western Britain.
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Here, from Chile, is excellent video of Tom at Festival Viña del Mar. This is from a TV broadcast. Parte 1 lasts almost 17 minutes. Parte 2, slightly over 15. If you’re in a hurry and don’t have a half-hour to watch, you can see show clips. Scroll down in the menu on the right. Of all the video from South America, our favorite is Tom singing The Reason. All of these give you a good idea of the show he’s doing now. And we love the shots of the band and the singers. Check at 4:43 of Parte 2 for I Like The Way, the new addition to the show that is very popular with audiences.

Here, too, are photos from his concerts in Chile. They include a magazine cover and story, concert shots, Tom getting an award and some photos carried on TV and in the newspaper.

We have to thank Dre for sending them. As he says, “Tom Jones: Apostle of Life After 65.”

He’s so right.

To see the rest of the photos, please follow the link below:

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We were able to get an advance copy of this new TJ bio that will be published March 15 in the UK. Here’s our review:

According to the dust jacket, Arise Sir Tom Jones: The Biography by Gwen Russell is an “affectionate” portrait of Sir Tom. “It paints a complete portrait of one of Britain’s most talented men; a true national treasure.”

Russell says the book is “based on Tom’s own memories and recollections from famous friends, relatives and contemporaries.” These memories and recollections all come from previously pubished news articles and print, radio and TV interviews. Every quote is from another source — a source that gets no credit from this author. As far as we two careful readers could tell, she interviewed no one.

She dredges up all the dirt but unlike, say, Robin Eggar — author of another book about Tom that, beside this, reads like Shakespeare — she did not even attempt original work. Remember when you had to do a paper for school? You researched the information, put in your quotes and, in your footnotes and bibliograpy, told the teacher where you found all this. If you did what Ms. Russell did here, the teacher would have failed you.

Even as a professional Ms. Russell does not labor under the constraints you did as a schoolkid. She quotes and “recalls” with abandon and, if you’ve read anything about Tom Jones, you’ve read all this before. In the original sources.
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Note: This is not the Viña Festival show for which the poster is below. That is tomorrow, Thursday night, February 22.

I’d like to report that tonight’s show was a complete success, but that would be not be entirely true.

Obviously the build-up for Tom’s show was more than adequate, judging from the amount of media and press which has embraced and recorded his every move since his arrival here in Concepción.

The cold hard facts may have to do with economics verses affordability. Many who wanted to see the show may not have been able to afford the price of admission. The result was a stadium, made to hold tens of thousands, seating far less.

The show was in no way a disappointment for the several thousand who were able to attended. They were excited and delighted to see their man.
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Tom is playing the Viña Festival in Chile tomorrow night. It’s a six-night event that features lots of talent from that continent, along with Ricky Martin and Bryan Adams and an act from the Netherlands that we “met” and who were kind enough to send the promo poster art at left.

First, here’s video of Tom’s arrival in Chile (photo right; news report en Español)

Then, Scoop (who saw it all) gives us a brief report:

Sir Tom Jones was treated to an unexpected hero’s welcome Tuesday night as his flight arrived in Concepción, Chile. Nearly 200 people, most with cameras, waited patiently outside of the baggage claim area for Mr. Jones to appear.

Several local news organizations covered the arrival live.

As Mr. Jones made his way through baggage claim, he was immediately surrounded by seven local security agents who joined two police officers already with the star.

Mr. Jones, who did pause briefly for photos and an interview, was then whisked into a waiting car along with his immediate entourage.

A police van with emergency lights ablaze led the way. Several people ran behind the vehicles waving and attempting to snap more photos.

This continuing tour of South America is Tom’s first in over 20 years.

Scoop’s review of the show is forthcoming.

On the bill with Tom are Scott and Muriel, comedy illusionists from the Netherlands. Muriel emailed tji.com a couple of weeks ago to ask for our suggestion for a gift they could give Tom. We began to correspond and she sent us the poster you see here for the Vineyard Festival. She promised a report after the event and we look forward to it. Meanwhile, Scott and Muriel’s website is well worth checking out.

Our friend Steve McCoy is now at the Legends In Concert show at Resorts in Atlantic City. He reports that audiences are responsive “and it’s a real kick to perform on the same stage as Tom and use the same dressing room.” (Remember, it was Tom himself who in 1988 chose Steve winner of a TJ look-alike contest in AC.)

Since that time, the Jersey native has traveled the world with his act and is, today, a producer with a roster of talent you can check out on his website.

The Cherry Hill Courier Post reviewed the show earlier this month. The reviewer said: “It’s always great news when former Camden County resident Steve McCoy brings his incredible Tom Jones impersonation to town. His routine includes perfect renditions of What’s New Pussycat? and It’s Not Unusual (done medley style) and Delilah.

“But, as in a concert by Jones himself, the most fun is in the rock covers and McCoy nails Lenny Kravitz’s Are You Gonna Go My Way and Tommy Tucker’s ’60s rhythm ‘n’ blues classic, Hi-Heeled Sneakers.”

Steve is at Resorts through mid-March and moves to the Hilton for the rest of that month.

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This Saturday, February 24, Steve and his group of performers will do a benefit for the Stewartstown Senior Center at Kennard High School in Fawn Grove, PA. Steve became involved because his mother is a member of the center. The show is at 7 p.m. and tickets are $18-$22. For information, please call 717-993-3452. And be sure to say hi to Steve if you go.

Tom’s former PR man John Moran (second from left next to Gordon Mills in this 1983 photo) passed away Friday night in Las Vegas. Many long-time fans will remember John, who worked closely with Gordon. Like Tom, John was a pallbearer at Gordon’s funeral.

John had a most interesting life, working in politics in New York with, among others, Bobby Kennedy and with many entertainers. He introduced Tom to a lot of US political luminaries and always spoke of Tom with great affection. Here in Las Vegas, in addition to his regular work, John was involved in Democratic party politics and worked hard for ChildHaven, an organization that provides housing and services for children who are orphaned or who have parents unable to care for them. He was also a devoted family man.

When he’d go to see Tom’s show at the MGM, John always sat by the sound booth in the back of the Hollywood Theater.

He will be missed.

We welcome Scoop back with open arms. We’ve missed these reports. Interesting to note that Tom does Mama Told Me and If I Only Knew in this show. Wish he’d put the latter in again permanently. We’re looking forward to more Scoop as the immediacy and enthusiasm of a fan just shines through the words and it’s almost — but not quite — as good as being there ourselves

Here is a youtube video of the song Scoop discusses below and te audience response to it.

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Hola, compadres,

Tom Jones’ last concert appearance in South America happened some 20 years ago. The collective memory of his Beunos Aires fans is indeed elastic! Last night’s performance was STEAMED HEAT! Let me just say that you wanted to be at this show.

They came 10,000 strong. After a stellar introduction, Mr. Jones wafted into view (from stage left) upon the wings of thunderous applause, foot stomping and chanting that literally transformed the historically significant Luna Park venue into a righteously ebullient spectacle, the likes of which are generally reserved at this venue for rock star royalty, or a really good wrestling match!

His entrance alone prompted a rousing standing ovation. I suspect that even Tom was a bit taken aback by this fervent display. The passion of the Spanish people made my heart want to burst with pride and respect, for Tom, for the people of Buenos Aires, and for the love of that moment.

It’s summertime here in Buenos Aires. I’ve been told that February is perhaps the most humid month of the year to experience. It was sweltering on this night.

Mr. Jones was looking slim, trim and quite fit. His jacket came off just after the third song of the night, Mama Told Me Not To Come. Yes, that tune did make a comeback in the set list, as did If I Only Knew.

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Sorry, but we couldn’t get this review from La Nacion in Agentina completely translated and we know this translation is a bit too literal, but we do not hablemos Español muy bueno, so this was the best we could do. We did see some errors (Green Green Grass was an Elvis hit? He did it but the hit was Jerry Lee’s and Tom’s age is wrong.) The photo is by Hernán Zenato and the caption used in the paper reflects this reviewer’s obsesion with Tom’s sweat.

The headline reads, “Tom Jones Was Faithful to His Myth.”

It goes on to say that the critic rated the show “bueno,” (good) and gave it three stars. Readers gave it four-and-one-half stars. In rough translation it says:

‘If Tom Jones were a footballer he would be applauded by his people each Sunday. In his long 65 years, the Welshman is a player of all the court who moves constantly in onstage, delivering each one of his classical movements and gestures and he perspires as few do.”

The writer then went on for 100 or so words about how Tom pespired and how he took off his jacket and still continued to perspire.

“Each song ended with a violent turn of arms, with the greeting of a world champion of boxing who knows that he has the public at his feet. From the working men’s bars in his native Wales to the shows in the hotels of the desert, this singer who conserves his voice in good form is still at the risk of falling into anachronisms. Through his long career, the man has worked in a good quantity of styles; even he wanted to change in the decade of the 90s. And the night before last he tried to show all his versatility, but if in the variety is the flavor, it also there inhabits the [flow of the show].


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Since we fell behind, we know most of you have already seen it, but we thought we’d post this anyway.

The DVD of the Jerry Lee Lewis PBS special Last Man Standing (referring, of course, to the fact that Jerry Lee is the last of the Sun Records’ so-called “Million Dollar Quartet” still living.

Here is a preview of the DVD with, first, him and Tom doing The End of the Road. In the second song, note the guitarist backing Jerry Lee and Solomon Burke.

The DVD will be released March 6. The PBS show will be broadcast in most markets during the PBS fundraising drive this spring. We’re sure the quality of this clip — like the photo — does not do justice to the finished product.