Tom Jones International

The El Paso Times has a feature today on Tom, who begins a winter tour of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Florida, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota — with a March 1 jaunt to New Zealand thrown in — on Tuesday. There’s nothing new here (including that photo!) and there are a few glaring factual errors as the reporter didn’t interview Tom, but it’s nice anyway — except for that *”c-word.” But we love the word “comadres.” And, if you go to any of his shows please tell us about them. We wish Tom and his touring troupe good weather during what can be a rough time of year in the midwestern USA.

Tom Jones is noted for two things: his string of enduring hits, and the explosive, raw energy of his live performances, at which screaming female fans often throw underwear onto the stage.

The man from Wales first burst on the music scene about 42 years ago with hits including It’s Not Unusual, She’s A Lady, Delilah and What’s New Pussycat?

He has remained in the spotlight ever since.

Jones, who travels around the globe to packed venues, will perform Tuesday in the Plaza Theatre.
His El Paso admirers include Jean Ames, Elvia Hernandez and Bertha Bailey, who remember his TV show (This Is Tom Jones from 1969 to 1971). They have their tickets for the concert.

“My son got me tickets for the concert in December as my Christmas present,” Hernandez said. “All my comadres (female buddies) are fans of his.

“The comadres and I used to take turns going to each other’s house to watch (Jones’) TV show. Our husbands, the men, would be in another room while we watched Tom sing and dance.”
Bailey said she plans to do something daring during the concert.





“I’m really thinking of taking a pair of underwear to throw at him … and see what happens,” she said. “If he gets near the audience, we’ll pull him down with us.”

Bailey said she and Hernandez liked the songs the artist made famous “because they are passionate and romantic.”

Ames said she likes the fact that Jones’ songs “never had any underhanded meaning to them. They were always nice, and he had a pleasing voice that I always enjoyed listening to. I understand that he’s getting younger audiences these days.”

Mary Yañez, another fan, characterized Jones as “very passionate.”

“I remember watching him on a TV show and how much I liked his energy,” she said. “He sang with such passion and it was as if he were singing to us personally.”

Jones’ ability to cross genres — including pop, country, techno and dance — has given him a resilience throughout the years.

However, the love ballad has remained his trademark.

It’s Not Unusual, a song about the pain of watching someone you love with another person, was his first big hit.

Reload, a duets album released in 1998, became his biggest-selling collection of all time.
He has also appeared in several movies (including Mars Attacks!) and in a few episodes of The Simpsons, in which he played himself.

Jones has amassed a long list of music awards over the years. In 2006, he also picked up a new title: He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and became Sir Tom Jones.

Several of his female fans find it amazing that Jones has been married to the same woman for nearly 50 years. His son, Mark Jones, is his manager and assistant.

“That’s admirable about him and his wife. And, he really is a good show person,” Ames said.

*”crooner”