Fan Fare, What's New, Pussycat?
Here’s where you’ll find TJ photos and stories that don’t fit into any other categories. It is, as its name says, just for fans — and, hopefully, for fun.
It’s Mother’s Day in the USA, So Here’s A Salute As Only Tom Jones Can Do It
Sunday, May 10th, 2009
Almost since he first began performing, Tom Jones has sung one tribute to mothers everywhere.
Even though the song was first performed by vaudevillian Sophie Tucker after her mother passed away and her version reached the Top 5 on record charts in 1928. (That’s what I read, even though I didn’t think such charts were compiled that early.) It was also a hit for the Barry Sisters and has been recorded Charles Aznavour, Connie Francis, The Irving Fields Trio and lots of others.
The song is My Yiddishe Mama. It’s first appearance on a TJ album was the 1967 Live At Talk of the Town. He sang a beautiful a capella version on one gig in Israel and, in February, 2005, repeated a 1990 Aussie TV duet of the song with Australian singer John Farnham on a tour the two did Down Under.
You’ll find video of that performance in the TJI.com Video Library.
Happy Mothers Day to all moms, no matter where you live!
This photo of Tom and his beloved mother Freda is from Hello! magazine. She died in California on February 16, 2003.
May 10th, 2009 at 6:56 am
Very beautiful… Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms!!!
May 10th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Happy Mother’s Day to everyone! Thanks for posting the pic of Tom with his mother. I’ve never seen her before so that’s a real treat. She must be so proud of him. I’m sure her spirit is with him often.
May 10th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
YES HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL MOTHERS, GRANDMOTHERS ETC.
LOVE THAT PICTURE OF TOM WITH HIS MOM. I AM SURE HE IS VERY HAPPY HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR BOTH HIS PARENTS AND SISTER AND OF COURSE HIS WIFE AND SON AND FAMILY
May 10th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
That’s a great picture of Tom and his mother–she was such a pretty lady. Look at the love there, so obviously captured in this picture. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
May 11th, 2009 at 4:51 am
This song has such special meaning to Tom. It made me wonder if he or his mother are Yiddish? Does anyone know?
May 11th, 2009 at 9:08 am
James: “Yiddish” is a language and, perhaps, a culture, that was born in Eastern Europe, It’s a mixture of Hebrew and German, although many Yiddish words are today in mainstream English. At any rate, I don’t believe Tom is, or his mother was, Jewish. I don’t want to discuss religion as this isn’t the forum for it. The emotions expressed in the song, however, are universal. Just substitute “Welsh” or “Irish” or whatever for “Yiddishe” and the meaning stays the same.