Tom Jones Joins Cumberland Valley National Bank & Trust announces appointment

Sir Thomas Jones Woodward, OBE (born Thomas John Woodward on 7 June 1940), is a legendary Welsh singer renowned for his powerful voice and enduring career spanning over six decades. His journey began with a string of major hits in the 1960s, propelling him to international stardom. Characterized by AllMusic as a “full-throated, robust baritone,” Jones’s voice became instantly recognizable.

Jones’s remarkable versatility allowed him to master diverse genres, including pop, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, soul, and gospel. A 2008 New York Times article aptly dubbed him a “musical shapeshifter” capable of sliding “from soulful rasp to pop croon.” His success is quantifiable: global record sales exceeding 100 million, bolstered by 36 Top 40 UK hits and 19 in the US. Iconic songs like “It’s Not Unusual,” “What’s New Pussycat?,” the James Bond theme “Thunderball,” “Green, Green Grass of Home,” “Delilah,” “She’s a Lady,” “Sex Bomb,” and his cover of Prince’s “Kiss” cemented his place in music history. His residency performances in Las Vegas became legendary, running from 1967 to 2011.

Beyond music, Jones explored acting. He debuted in the lead role of the TV film Pleasure Cove (1979) and notably appeared as himself in Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks! (1996). His hosting of This Is Tom Jones earned him a 1966 Grammy for Best New Artist, an MTV Video Music Award in 1989, and two Brit Awards (Best British Male, 2000; Outstanding Contribution to Music, 2003). He was appointed OBE in 1998 and knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 for his services to music. Experiencing a significant resurgence in the 2010s, Jones served as a popular coach on The Voice UK (2012–2015, 2017–present), introducing his talent to new generations. His dramatic acting debut came in 2012’s Playhouse Presents.

Tom Jones Early Life

Thomas John Woodward was born on June 7, 1940, at 57 Kingsland Terrace in Treforest, Wales. He was the son of Freda Jones, a homemaker, and Thomas Woodward, a coal miner. Although born and raised in Wales, his ancestry was predominantly English, tracing back to Somerset, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire through his grandparents.

Woodward attended local schools in Treforest: Wood Road Infants School, Wood Road Junior School, and Pontypridd Central Secondary Modern School. Academics and sports held little appeal for him; instead, he found his confidence and passion in singing. From a very young age, he performed regularly at family gatherings, weddings, and as part of his school choir, displaying an early natural talent.

His childhood took a difficult turn at age 12 when he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. The disease confined him to bed for two years, an experience he later described as “the worst time of my life.” Isolated and unable to participate in normal activities, this period proved transformative. With little else to do, he immersed himself in listening to music and drawing, laying a crucial, albeit unintentional, foundation for his future artistic career during this long convalescence.

Tom Jones Career: Rise to Fame

Tom Jones’s path to international stardom began with his powerful voice, later described as a “full-throated, robust baritone.” He noted its evolution, stating, “What you lose on the top end, you gain on the bottom end. I used to be able to hit a top C when I was young now it’s a B flat.” His professional journey started in 1963 as the frontman for Tommy Scott and the Senators, a Welsh beat group. They cultivated a strong local following in South Wales, recording tracks in 1964 with producer Joe Meek. Despite Meek’s efforts to secure a record deal, success remained elusive.

A turning point came later that year when Decca producer Peter Sullivan saw the group perform and directed them to manager Phil Solomon. This partnership proved short-lived, but persistence paid off when Gordon Mills, a London-based music figure, discovered Jones. Recognizing his potential, Mills became his manager and orchestrated a pivotal move: relocating Jones to London and renaming him “Tom Jones” to capitalize on the popularity of the recent Academy Award-winning film of the same name.

Mills secured Jones a contract with Decca Records. His debut single, “Chills and Fever” (late 1964), failed to chart. However, the follow-up, “It’s Not Unusual“, became a sensation after being championed by the influential pirate radio station Radio Caroline. Its success propelled 1965 into the most prominent year of Jones’s early career, establishing him as a major force in the British Invasion. “It’s Not Unusual” soared to No. 1 in the UK and entered the US Top Ten.

Capitalizing on this momentum, Mills secured Jones high-profile assignments recording theme songs for major films. This included the James Bond film Thunderball and Burt Bacharach and Hal David‘s “What’s New Pussycat?” Jones was initially skeptical about the latter, recalling feeling it was “sort of a backhanded compliment: ‘I’ve got to have you, but this is the song.'” Bacharach personally convinced him, explaining, “I want the big voice to sing this bloody crazy song.” Jones’s powerful rendition turned it into an enduring classic.

This period of intense success culminated in Jones receiving the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1966. During a 1965 filming break at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, he met Elvis Presley for the first time, recalling Presley singing “With These Hands” as he approached. The encounter blossomed into a lasting friendship.

However, by 1966, Jones’s initial wave of popularity began to wane slightly. In response, Mills strategically reshaped his image into that of a sophisticated crooner and broadened his musical repertoire. This reinvention proved highly successful. Jones soon regained his chart dominance, scoring a string of significant hits on both sides of the Atlantic over the next few years. Standouts included “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again“, “I’m Coming Home“, and the iconic “Delilah“, each reaching the No. 2 spot in the UK charts, cementing his status as a global superstar beyond the initial British Invasion frenzy.