TJ Questions, What's New, Pussycat?
Here’s where we post our “Question of the Month” and where you can send in a question about Tom and we’ll do our best to answer. To submit a question, please click on the “contact” link on the bottom right side of the page. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Welcome Back From The Holidays! Here’s The First 2008 Question of the Month
Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008We know y’all have been busy so, if you’ve not had a chance to visit TJI.com in the last several days, please take a moment to scroll down and see if you’ve missed any posts. Then, please answer our January 2008 Question of the Month. Have a great year!
We have a staff of crack researchers and would like to put their skills at your disposal. Toward that end, the question is:
Is there some information about Tom’s career or professional life you’d like to know and haven’t been able to find out?
Perhaps it’s a special date or an album track or…..well…whatever it is, let us know and we’ll try to answer your question.
(And be sure to check the post below for more video from Romania on New Year’s Eve.)
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:31 am
I don’t have a question but I just wanted to congratulate you on this wonderful site! It’s much more informative than the official one, a thing I find happens very often. Only real fans can be dedicated enough to keep updating a place like this. Thanks a lot, especially for the great clips of the concert in Romania, it’s so cool to be able to watch these mere hours after a concert took place!
Greetings, Dragonlady from Switzerland
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:04 am
Just curious. How did Tom end up in Romania for New Years eve? Only asking because I can think of a zillion places closer in the U.S where we could have brought 2008 in with “our man” Just a selfish thought.
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:13 am
Linda: Music is a business and, like entertainers we know here in Las Vegas who left to work elsewhere for New Year’s Eve because of the money involved, it’s a good bet that Tom did the same.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:24 am
When did Tom do his first professional singing?
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:26 am
Susan: Tom first sang for a fee (£1) in 1957 at the Wood Road Social Club in Treforest.He sang six songs.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:49 am
For many years there was a so-called feud between Tom and Engelbert Humperdinck, is it still on-going?
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Mary: I hope he is doing all good for himself to get the energy to perform and for touring the US, Canada and more on his breathtaking schedule for 2008
– I don’t have to mention that he is 67, do I?
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Margaret, Mary & BeBe: Here you go:
Margaret: The official word is that they are not feuding. But we know from sources that they rarely, if ever, see each other these days. And we’ve also heard that Enge is still making negative comments during the course of his show.
Mary: He generally, from what we’ve heard, sleeps late, exercises, dines and performs. Of course he does any necessary interviews, rehearsal, etc. And, yes, he does charity work. There’s the work we read about (The Elton John AIDS Foundation, the Breast Cancer Research Fund, among them) and the smaller things, like signing the photo for us that we donated to MusiCares and donating all sorts of things to other charities.
BeBe: No, you don’t have to mention he’s 67, but we also know Tom (with his staff) takes good care of himself and performing pretty much comes first with him. Mary’s question was valid and it’s nice to again be able to tell people that he does do charity work.
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I’ve noticed in some old photos and videos that Tom appears to have a scar underneath his chin (noticed especially on close-ups on TV shots when he’s holding a note). Has anyone else noticed that? Is it from a childhood injury or accident?
January 2nd, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Renn: We stand corrected. The chin scar is from some surgery he had in 1972 to remove fat deposits from under his chin. It was not a lift although Paula tells us that, at the time, the UK papers had a field day with speculation.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Love to know the entire process of how TJ picks where to perform and all the behind the scenes things it takes to make it all work…travel–hotel—etc. It would be very interesting on who does what to make it all happen
Thanks,
Rica
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I’m curious to know why Tom’s son is not managing him anymore and where he was able to find Don Archell. I’d also like to know what exactly Don’s role is with Tom. Thanks!!!
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Rica:
While we don’t know the specifics of what Tom’s management does to choose dates and venues, we do know from other experience that it’s a combination of who, what, where, when and how….much. In other words: Who wants to book Tom? What are the details of the show? Where is the venue? When do they want him? How much is being offered? In Las Vegas Tom has a multi-week deal with the MGM Grand stating he’ll perform about 10 weeks each year. In AC — which seems to be in a bit of flux lately — he has a similar deal, but for shorter time periods, mostly three or four days. Except for his Las Vegas gigs, the backline equipment (all the amps and stuff that comes with the band and singers) travels with the group.In Las Vegas, we’re told the everything is stored at the MGM. All the tour arrangement are made by people in his office. We’ve often wondered, by the way, if the booking is done by people not too sure of US geography, as he’ll play in Virgina one night, Michigan the next and, on the third night, it’s back to Maryland.) The road manager, Sandy Battaglia, is in charge of all details while they are actually on the road.Vince:
Tom’s son Mark Woodward, and Tom’s daughter-in-law Donna Woodward, are definitely still managing him. Don Archell is Tom’s personal assistant, his companion on the road. We don’t know where Tom “was able to find Don,” but we do know Don used to perform a similar function for Rod Stewart. He’s a nice guy. You can learn a bit more about Don and the others who work with Tom by referring to our section The Band and Staff Today. Scroll down and you’ll find Don there, along with Sandy and the others who work with Tom you may see at shows.January 2nd, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Does Tom have a staff attorney review his personal appearance long term/short term contracts, or is that strictly up to Mark and Donna? Who signs the final deals?
Just curious.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Laura: We don’t know for sure, but we do believe that people don’t become as successful in the business as Tom and his management have without having dotted all the i’s and crossing all the t’s. And, thus, most likely having good attorneys.
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:20 am
Where does Tom live when he is in Las Vegas, at the MGM ? For instance, where does he have his meals ? and How does he travel from town to town ? Has he still got his private plane ?
January 3rd, 2008 at 5:49 am
What does Tom do to stay in such great shape and to be able to continue to perform with the high energy at his age?
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:24 am
Martine: Tom does not have a private plane any more and hasn’t for several years. When he comes to Las Vegas from his home in California, he usually travels by car. He’ll also use a tour bus from time to time (as when traveling around in one region for several one-nighters. Otherwise, he travels by commercial plane. When he plays at a hotel, he usually stays there and dines at one of the restaurants there.
Greg: We’re told Tom works out every day, at least when he’s on the road and in one place, as at the MGM in Las Vegas.
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:04 am
I would like to know if Tom does meet and greets backstage? Does Tom ever go on his site? Does he have an email where you can write to him?
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:08 am
Cindy:
Meet-and-greets (at which fans can get a grip-and-grin photo) happen depending on circumstances. High rollers at casinos can usually arrange a meeting, as can the fan who “knows someone.” It’s not like it used to be, though, when a call to the former road manager could get someone on the list to go back. As for Tom’s website, we really don’t know. He does not use a computer as far as we know. You can try writing to him via his office (information under the “contact” section on his site) or can send a snail mail to him at either his US or UK offices (address also on his official site).January 3rd, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I have often wondered how the songs are selected for each year’s performance. For example, through the years, I’ve seen shows where Tom has done songs by a variety of individuals to include Michael Jackson, Otis Redding, Kenny Rogers, maybe a Broadway show, maybe a medley of “soul” songs, etc. . . I can’t think of all he’s done. How are those songs chosen? Does Tom single handedly select each and every song because it’s one that he wants to sing? Or does another individual or group of individuals provide a list of songs that they feel might be good for the show? On occasion, prior to him singing a particular song, I’ve heard Tom say “he’s waited a long time to sing this song.” Just curious as to how that process works. Thank you.
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Any news of when Tom’s 2008 schedule will be updated?
January 3rd, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Monica: We’ve heard that songs are chosen in a sort of collaborative process. Tom and his management make the final choice but nowadays suggestions are solicited from the band and singers. Brian Monroney — Tom’s brilliant musical director — does the arrangements. Of course, when he’s got new material to promote, that gets added to the show. We’d imagine that when he talks about having “waited a long time” to do a particular number, that it’s a song he’s liked and just never got to fit into the set list. We don’t believe (although we cannot be positive) that inability to acquire rights to sing any song would be an issue.
Greg: It seems to be an on-going process. We know he’ll be in New Zealand on March 1 and the rest of the year should fill in soon. Of course, there are (thankfully) always some last-minute surprises. We’ll try to keep you informed.
January 4th, 2008 at 9:08 am
I have heard two different things concerning Tom’s given middle name. I have heard he was born Thomas John Woodward, and then I’ve heard Thomas Jones Woodward. As far as his name change, is it connected to the Film Tom Jones that was popular in 1965, or does the choice of name change have to do with his original birth name? I’ve wondered about this for sometime and I hope that you can clear it up. Thanks! Love the calendar!
January 4th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Chris: We’ll try to find out for sure, but we really believe it’s Thomas John Woodward, after his father. The idea of giving a child a mother’s maiden name — except for the old-line, so-called “upper classes” — didn’t gain currency or become trendy until the next generation. One fan, who claims to have a copy of his birth certificate, says it’s John. And, yes, Gordon Mills chose the stage name directly after the film. And, you have to agree, it was an inspired choice.
January 4th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I have read that Tom used to draw when he was a kid laid up with tuberculosis. I wonder if that is still something he does. Has anyone ever seen any of his drawings?
January 4th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
When Tom does use a tour bus for one night engagements, is his dinner brought to him on the bus, or does he dine locally? I am asking this question, because I have often wondered where he would choose to dine in my neck of the woods.
January 4th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Pam: Others have asked but no one we know of has seen any of his work.
Audrey: We know he’ll sometimes eat on the bus, but that isn’t his preference (would it be anyone’s?). Maybe, if you invite him, he’ll dine a su casa when he’s in your neck of the woods. If not, he’ll probably go to a restaurant at the hotel where he’s staying. In a nice hotel, like the famous one near you, there are probably some good choices.
January 5th, 2008 at 7:01 am
There was previous mention of a private plane and in the movie, Mars Attacks, he is shown flying a plane. Is he a pilot?
January 5th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Does Tom take vacations when not on tour? Where does he go and with who?
Does Tom drive around Los Angeles him self? What kind of cars does he have?
Does Tom gamble while playing all the casinos?
Thanks and what a great way to get some Tom info. Thanks again
Rica
January 5th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Lori: There was a private plane in the early days, but Tom doesn’t have a license or a plane today.
Rica: We find it difficult to answer your questions, as those deal with Tom’s personal life and we don’t wish to go there and intrude on his privacy by speculating on any vacations. Yes, he does drive in L.A. — lots of fans have seen him — and does have several cars. Robbie Williams, an L.A. neighbor once said in an interview he doesn’t see Tom often, but can tell when he’s in town by looking at his cars. If they’re uncovered, he’s home in L.A. If covered, he’s not.
His old Mercedes and a Jaguar that allegedly belonged to Tom have turned up for sale. When he plays Vegas, he and Don drive here in, we think, a Hummer (used to be a Range Rover). Tom emphatically does not frequent any casinos here.
January 5th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Love this Q & A feature– Hope you’ll keep it as a regular or frequent addition to the site! Thanks, Moderators! And…My TJI calendar is now hanging above my desk at my workplace. It is quite the object of interest in our offices!
January 5th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Nancy:
We have a page called TJ Questions (link at right). Whenever you have a TJ question, just email it to us and well try to answer it and post your question and the answer. It must, however, be asked via the email links at right unless we’re doing it as a Question of the Month, as we are now. The reason for that is, if you just try to post on that page, we might miss it.January 5th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Any idea which Springsteen song will be on Tom’s new cd? Also, any idea if he’ll ever do another live CD?
Thanks
January 5th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Greg: No to both, but we think it’s one of Bruce’s more obscure songs. We think. As a big fan of Bruce’s, Ellen is just happy Tom’s doing something of his. Same for Bono. And, if this is really true, it will open up new audiences for Sir Tom, as others rarely cover Springsteen and/or Bono’s work and they each have huge followings. One avid fan of both Springsteen and U2, who had resisted seeing Tom for years, finally went to a show and couldn’t get over the great voice and choice of material. (This was when all the Jools Holland CD stuff was in the show.) If other fans of Bruce and Bono feel the same, these will turn out to be very smart choices indeed for the new album. We live in hope.
January 5th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Hey all, this is VERY cool. My husband was in a second hand music store today and picked up a Tom Jones’ LP, “Green,Green Grass of Home” recorded on the UK Decca label. When Ian pulled out the actual LP, a small envelope came out also. It’s a ticket envelope from the London Palladium, with 7 ticket stubs in it. They say “London Palladium, 2nd Evening Perf. Monday May 8 ROYAL CIRCLE and they cost 20 shillings. They are seats G29-G35.
On the back of the envelope is printed “Verrey’s Restaurant, 23 Regent St Street Half-Minute from this theater — Easy Car Parking.”
Our guess is that the person who bought the album also went and saw Tom Jones at the Palladium in London. That said, we have two questions: 1. What year was this album, Green Green Grass of Home released (it says “1967 1966″ on the label); and, 2. Did Tom Jones play at the London Palladium on May 8th of any year?
Thanks!
January 5th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Hola, Queria hacerles 2 preguntas: La primera, ¿Si es verdad que en 1996 la compañia discografica Interscope no editò un CD de Tom por considerarlo poco comercial, y si alguna vez ese disco saldrà a la venta? La ùltima pregunta es: ¿Porque desde hace algunos años Tom graba tan poco desde 1988 A 2007 solamente grabò 6 CDs (At This Moment, Carrying A Torch, The Lead, Reload, Mr Jones and Jools Holland.
Muchas Gracias
January 5th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Fay: The Green Green Grass of Home (Decca LK/SKL 4855) was released March 24, 1967. And, if you go to our link about Tourbooks, you’ll find books from London Palladium appearances in 1968 and 1973. In fact, Paula sent us an old TOJO fan club newsletter dated November 24, 1972, which contains a letter to fans (allegedly written by Tom, but we know it wasn’t, right?) reporting, “…the dreadful cold I had while appearing at the Palladium quickly cleared up…” So, we’d guess the May 8th date was from 1968. But we’ll check and correct this post if we’re wrong.
Jorge has two questions for us: Will the Interscope album, considered uncommercial by the company, ever be released? And, Why has Tom recorded so few albums since 1989 (Carrying a torch, The Lead, Reload, Mr. Jones and Jools Holland)?
Jorge:Ahora, la repuesta es “no.” La otra pregunta? No sabemos, pero es muy costoso a graba y el trato debe tener razón.
Jorge: As of now, the answer to the first question is “no.” The Interscope album will probably not be sold. As for the second question? We don’t know, but it is very expensive to record an album and the deal must be right.
January 7th, 2008 at 7:20 am
Hi, Lately Tom has been traveling everywhere but the Northeastern states of the US. I have two questions: Why hasn’t he been up here in over 2 years? Is there anyone we can contact to recommend a venue that Tom might actually come to?
January 7th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Jared: The decisions about where he plays are made, naturally, by his management. The choices made, as we said above, most likely involve money, scheduling, venue, etc. You just have to write to his office. Contact information is on his official site.
January 7th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Any idea where a person might find a recording of Tom singing Walking in Memphis? I love it!
January 7th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Has Tom ever won a Grammy? I heard he did back in the 60s, but he’s had a lot of records out since then, why hasn’t he been nominated since then?
January 7th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Monica: We got Walking In Memphis as part of a two-disc Australian release of The Lead and How To Swing It. The second disc is a live set titled Three Decades of Cool. On it are, recorded live in London, Unbelievable, Walking In Memphis, Take Me To The River, Green Green Grass of Home, It’s Not Unusual and Kiss. It’s frequently on eBay, so check there first.
Jared: Yes, Tom won the “Best New Artist” Grammy in 1965. As for why he hasn’t been nominated or won since, well — we don’t know…..but we do know his big albums, like Reload, weren’t released here. That could be a contributing factor to his lack of noms, don’t you think?
January 8th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Hi Everyone!!! Just a quick question, I noticed that tickets are going on sale for Tom at Harrahs in AC on January 10 but, they are only for Friday and Saturday nights. Does anyone know if Sunday will be added? Also, does anyone know anything about the summer venue for AC? Any news about Resorts? Thanks so much for your help, this site is wonderful!
January 8th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Brianne: We don’t know, except that at the moment, Resorts is not on his schedule. If you look on his official site, Harrahs is listed for only one night, so this is progress. We’ve also heard rumors that he’s going to Trump Marina but, according to their box office, he is not. Just keep watching and waiting. As you know, things can change at any time.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:03 am
It looks like Tom’s management finally got smart when it comes to Atlantic City, by finally booking him at a place like Harrah’s where there is assigned seating and no nonsense with greasing ushers, waiting in long lines ahead of showtime, etc.
January 9th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I so much enjoy your fan club. You ladies do an absolutely fantastic job! My question is, why doesn’t Tom ever sing the song, Darlin’, which was such a successful hit for him in 1981? I see him every year, and I wonder why that song has never been included in his set. — Eunice
January 9th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Eunice: First, thanks for your kind words but we are not a “fan club.” We are merely a website. As for Darlin’, it was in his show in the 80s when he took a turn down a country road. He simply doesn’t do country any more, unless you count Green Green Grass, and that was a huge international hit for Tom. None of the other country stuff was, so he doesn’t do them in his show.
January 10th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Great Q&A! keep up the good work ladies!
January 11th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Hello I hope you can answer this one, on March 31 some friends of mine and I have tickets to see Sir Tom at MGM. I just happened to notice on Tom Jones web site it shows him not being at MGM on March 31, it goes from March 30 to April 1, the same is also noted on Herman Matthews web site. The MGM web site shows Sir Tom performing on March 31. Did he perhaps cancel on March 31 and it has not been taken off of MGM web site or is the information on the other two sites wrong. Thank you in advance.
January 11th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Any idea when his MGM schedule will come out? My wife and I are trying to plan a trip to Vegas and would love to see Tom.
January 12th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Dave & Greg: Watch this site in the next day or so, as we’re gathering info on Tom’s schedule for 2008 and might have the answer.
January 12th, 2008 at 9:24 am
What is my beloved Tommykins’ middle name? Is it perhaps Dawa Fruitman? Is Tom Jones his real name or merely a stage name? If it is, I would like to know my precious Tominator’s real name. Here is a list of all the nicknames I have made for Tom.
Tommykins, Tomkins, Tompoo, Tommypoo, TJ, Tommytoms, Tommy, Tominator, Toms, Tomster, Tom, My-Beloved-Tom
Please reply to my questions about Tommypoo.
January 12th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Tommylover: Please refer to comments 25 & 26 above for the answer. We must add that we had fun looking up Dawa Fruitman and your question is one of the reasons that we find Sir Tom’s fans endlessly fascinating.
January 13th, 2008 at 5:29 am
I saw an interview with Tom were he claims Jones is his middle name or his mother’s last name…
January 13th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Flash: “Jones” was his mother’s maiden name. The name he was given at birth is “Thomas John,” after his father, Thomas John Woodward. When Gordon Mills changed his client’s name to “Tom Jones,” the coincidence of Tom’s mother’s maiden name being “Jones” was apparently too good to pass up, so that became his middle name “officially.” As we noted above, people didn’t give their kids a mother’s maiden name as a middle name (unless they were very wealthy) until the next generation. Just wasn’t generally done.
January 13th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
We all know that Tom works out to stay in shape, do you know what in particular he works on: weight training, cardio etc ? Does he still like to swim? Do you know the name of his cologne(s)?
Thanks, Katherine
January 13th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Katherine: We think Tom does weights and, as he has a pool, might swim when convenient. Don’t know about cardio, but he used to run (maybe he still does or, perhaps, uses a treadmill) and he used to wear Secret of Venus cologne (and maybe he still does) but it’s very difficult to get now. Sells for a lot of money on eBay, even used. But, anyone who ever got close to him when he did wear it will never forget that scent.
January 15th, 2008 at 10:00 am
I heard a long time ago that Tom paints and is really talented.
I had seen a picture of an egg painted by him-could this be true?
Also, does he not drive anymore since his accident so many years ago?
Thanks
January 15th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Katherine: I heard Tom mention, during one of his shows, that he uses an elliptical machine to stay in shape.
January 15th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Lori thanks so much for the info.
January 15th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
You’ve had a question on how he stays in shape, any word on how he stays healthy? His schedule is grueling; he’s on planes and visiting many places across North America; he takes quick trips across the globe; meets and greets many people… what is his vitamin/supplement regimen? I want some of it! I’ve had my stupid flu/cold lingering for weeks. Arrgghh! Can’t get rid of it. (Cough, cough.)
January 15th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Dana: Not being personally involved, we can only tell you what we’ve heard from credible sources. First, Tom does take care of himself, now more than ever. He is vigilant about getting eight hours sleep and, when in Las Vegas and other dry climates, protects his throat with humidifiers at night. Can’t answer the question about vitamins/supplements, but we do know he is careful. He loves to sing and will do nothing to imperil that ability. And, Dana, we hope you get well soon.
January 16th, 2008 at 12:37 am
Has Tom still got a very strong Welsh accent? is it a nice one? And, when he speaks, does he make grammatical mistakes or does he speak with a good vocabulary? (He stopped school very young.)
January 16th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Martine: Tom has a beautiful speaking voice, deep and resonant. His vocabulary is just fine and he has a definite Welsh accent, but it isn’t a heavy one. And, no, as a rule he doesn’t make grammatical errors. He is well-spoken, quick-witted and amusing.
January 17th, 2008 at 4:37 am
Thank you “Moderator”.
Tom is definitely my beloved English teacher.
January 17th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Hi: I finally found the album Darlin’ that i have been looking for and could listen to it 24/7. It is my favorite one that he ever put out and has some beautiful songs on it. Just wanted to let all know that if you haven’t heard it, you are truly missing out on some awesome music. The first one I had was on a cassette , but this is a CD and guess I should have bought 10. Checked eBay and the cassettes were selling from $80 up to and past $200. My headphones have been glued to my ears all afternoon!!!!