Tom Jones International

Our correspondent on the scene at the Marriott Marquis last night reports:”There was a huge crowd. I was right in the center of the red carpet and was promoised a quick interview with Sir Tom. But one outlet [ABC Radio] kept him talking so long that they whisked him away into the hotel for the formal shots.

“But I did get to speak with his son Mark. I sent him regards from the fans at TJI.com and congratulated him for his father’s achievements. He told me he’s ‘very proud’ of his dad.”

The correspondent’s photos are in our flickr set The Many Faces Of Tom Through the Years.

Moderator’s Note: There was lots of press on the event, so I’ve chosen just quotes about Sir Tom and given you the sources so you can read the entire articles if you wish. There surely will be more and some, like one online UK outlet used a quote from Tuesday night, so all are not accurate. I’ve chosen the best sources I could.

From Erica Futterman in Rolling Stone’s Rock Daily: “American Idol judge and songwriter Kara DioGuardi presented Tom Jones with the Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award. “You have to have songs to get your foot in the door… You have to have great songs, and you have to be lucky to recognize them,” Jones, who recently started co-writing his material, told the room. His spirited medley of “Green Green Grass” and “It’s Not Unusual” was halted when Jones asked to start “Unusual” over “I started in the wrong place. I’ve only been singing this since 1964!” he deadpanned.”

From Mike Ragona in the Huffington Post: “Then came Tom Jones who shared a few good tales about his biggest hits. He told the room he had always loved rock ‘n’ roll and considered himself that kind of artist, then revealed that when Burt Bacharach approached him to record “What’s New Pussycat?” the Brit honestly thought he was joking, that the composer’s bouncy presentation was some sort of put-on. He also said that had he never heard Jerry Lee Lewis’ unique version of “The Green, Green Grass Of Home,” he would never have recorded it. And Sandi Shaw’s rejection of a pitched demo of Jones singing “It’s Not Unusual” led to his adopting it.”

From Roger Friedman in The Hollywood Reporter’s Showbiz 411: “Tom Jones — who’s just turned 69 and has grandchildren, he says, in their 20s – sang “It’s not Unusual” and “Green Green Grass of Home” with as much exuberance as if it were 1965 and no time had passed at all. He got some rueful laughs observing: “Without the song, we’d just be box boys at Ralph’s Market.”

Photo © Creative Ink 2009

Moderator’s Note: At some point on Friday, we’ll have more photos and a brief report from our correspondent. It’s after 9, I haven’t eaten dinner and tomorrow morning I have to be somewhere at 7 am. Please forgive the delay. — Ellen

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So far, our journalist on the scene says Tom is slated to sing Curly Putman’s classic, Green Green Grass of Home, a song Tom did make a hit and, thus, is so appropriate for him to sing at this event. The TJI correspondent says she’s front and center on the red carpet.

The photo here is a composite of shots not from our correspondent. Those will be posted later. As you can see, that’s Tom on the red carpet with Jon Bon Jovi (difficult to imagine two guys that good looking in one photo) and Kara Dio Guardi. The correspondent didn’t have the opportunity to speak with Tom (when her photos are posted I’ll explain why) but she did talk with Mark.

Also there tonight were: SHOF Chairman/CEO Hal David (remember, he co-wrote What’s New Pussycat); inductees Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora; Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati (The Young Rascals); Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway; David Crosby, Stephen Stills & Graham Nash (CSN); Galt MacDermot, James Rado and wife and son of the late Gerome Ragni and Stephen Schwartz.; honorees Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland Jr. of Holland-Dozier-Holland; Sir Tom Jones; Maxyne Lang; Jason Mraz and Andy Williams; presenters/performers Clint Black; Daughtry; Berry Gordy; Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr.; Joe Nichols; John Ondrasik; James Taylor; Ryan Tedder; Rob Thomas and Paul Williams.

Tonight in New York City, Tom will receive the Hitmaker Award from the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. We plan to have a photographer there and will fill you in ASAP. Look for it!

The beautiful and gifted Roxanne and Candy were at the show tonight in Philadelphia. They report:

“The venue was fabulous. If it wasn’t raining and wasn’t cold it would have been perfect. The place is huge and the lawn seats — outdoors — were pretty empty in the rain. The security was great. They let you dance, move around and up to the stage. Tom said hello and threw kisses at us but, when a girl he didn’t know wanted to kiss him, he declined. ‘No, no,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to get a cold. I have to sing.’

“Never is still not in the set list but everything else is the same. When he sang I’ll Never Fall In Love Again he got a standing O. People applauded and screamed after every song. He continually had to wait until the crowd quieted. It was just great.

“Everyone onstage with Tom was, as usual terrific. It was a very excellent show. His management, with him in New York, wasn’t there, but lots of familiar fans — young and old — were.”

Thanks to Roxanne & Candy for phoning in their report. If anyone else was there, please send an email and be sure to include any visual material! Thanks!

From ET Online comes video of the Friars event red carpet.

You’ll see Tom, as ever rightfully proud of his accomplishments, as he talks about getting awards. Dionne Warwick talks about accepting Natalie Cole’s award because the latter is so ill and Paul Shaffer, David Letterman’s bandleader, talks about presenting the award to Tom. And Luci Arnaz — who, as you probably know, is the actor-daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz — talks about lots of things, including the fact that Tom is “quite a gentleman.”

You can watch the video here.

As usual, if you can’t view it, drop an email and I’ll send it.

And, of course, tonight, Tom kicks off his summer tour with an outdoor concert in Philadelphia. If you’re going, please share your experience!

I’d never presume to speak for Tom’s fans, but I’m sure you’ll all join me in sending warm, heartfelt congratulations to Tom!

Tom received the Friars Foundation Artistic Scholarship Applause Award, one of three given tonight to “artists and industry titans who have shown outstanding merit and achievement, and whose careers have contributed positively to their industry and to the world of entertainment.”

As you can see in the photo, the Applause Award trophy is, actually, a pair of hands applauding. Is there a sweeter sound than applause to any performer?

In addition to Sir Tom Jones and the evening’s two other honorees — Natalie Cole and Leslie Moonves — among others attending the dinner were Chairman of The Friars Foundation, Ambassador Joseph Zapalla; Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and author Elie Weisel (who recently accompanied President Obama to the site of Buchenwald); bandleader Paul Schaffer; Dionne Warwick; comedian Norm Crosby (who opened for Tom many times, including his first show at MSG); comedian Robert Klein (who starred with Lucie Arnaz on Broadway in They’re Playing Our Song; and CBS personality Julie Chen who is married to honoree Les Moonves.

According to Ambassador Zapalla, “Our mission to foster the performing arts could not have better examples of the achievements individuals can make in the entertainment industry. The Friars Foundation is proud of their accomplishments and we’re pulling out the stops for a successful fundraising event.”

The Friars Foundation was established in 1977 as the charitable arm of the Friars Club. The mission of the Foundation is to help small performing arts groups create innovative and affordable programs that will educate, entertain and enrich the lives of diverse audiences and participants. Additionally, the Foundation helps prepare the next generation of performers and musical artists through scholarship programs for students studying the performing arts.

When more stories/photos are printed, they’ll be posted here. If you come across one, please email it to me for everyone to enjoy.

Here are the first photos out of Sir Tom Jones on the red carpet at the Friars Club Applause Award gala at Cipriani in Manhattan from 8 to 11 pm (EDT) tonight.

As the Friars’ press release explained the award:

Natalie Cole will receive the Friars Foundation Creative Achievement Applause Award, Leslie Moonves, president of CBS, will receive the Friars Foundation Lifetime Achievement Applause Award, and Tom Jones will receive the Friars Foundation Artistic Scholarship Applause Award. All three awards are given, respectively, to artists and industry titans who have shown outstanding merit and achievement, and whose careers have contributed positively to their industry and to the world of entertainment.

Born Thomas John Woodward in Pontypridd, South Wales, Tom Jones is one of the most enduring personalities in music. His unique vocal power, ability and charismatic persona has led Jones to multi-platinum and gold records throughout the world. Tom has sustained his popularity for more than four decades. His recordings have spanned the spectrum from pop, rock and country to classic standards, rhythm and blues to boogie-woogie and rockabilly through to contemporary dance and urban soul.

Hopefully, there’ll be more photos and a news story to come tomorrow.

Sir Tom Jones is in New York getting ready for a few things: Tonight he’ll be honored by the Friars Club at the annual gala. Check out the Friars Club website. There’s fun stuff there. After all, their slogan is “A Hundred Years, A Million Laughs,” although their jokes page is filled with jokes older than the Friars Club.

Tomorrow night he kicks off his long summer tour with a concert in Philadelphia.

Thursday, it’s back to the Greatest City in the World for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the Marriott Marquis as the winner of the annual Hitmaker Award. (Hopefully, TJI.com will have a photographer there.)

Then it’s Connecticut, upstate New York, a trip to Glastonbury,— where it looks like he’ll stay for a UK visit for a few days — Milwaukee, the Ravinia Festival Chicago (where you can win tickets in the TJI.com raffle), Michigan and so on. There are 23 mostly one-nighter dates between tomorrow and his August 6 opening at the MGM Grand.

Wishes to Tom and the gang for a terrific tour (break a leg) and to all the fans out there — have a great time and, please, share your experiences with the rest of us.

On May 30 TJI.com posted an article in which Otis Ferry, son of Brian, criticized (or, since he’s a Brit, “criticised”) the Glastonbury Festival for booking the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young and Tom Jones. Granted, his remarks were idiotic but, better than just saying that, the best answer appeared in yesterday’s New York Times. The point is strongly made that music and music festival fans are of all ages, all generations, and nothing’s to be gained by ignoring that fact.

The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, held outside Nashville, TN, this year featured the most diverse line-up imaginable. Appearing were, among others, Merle Haggard, Alain Toussaint, Nine Inch Nails, Bruce Springsteen (right, with Max Weinberg on drums), Phish, David Byrne, Flavor Flav, Chuck D, Jimmy Buffett and the Beastie Boys.

There were also, as the article below points out, comedians, indie bands, bluegrass, soul and African bands. The reporter, Jon Parales, opens by saying, “There’s nothing hip about the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, where tie-dye is still in fashion and white hair doesn’t disqualify a headliner.”

Sounds kind of like Glastonbury, doesn’t it?

If you’re interested in music — and festivals — the article makes good reading.

If you’re not, all I’ll say is that Otis Ferry might read it and heed its lesson. And shut up.

This week Tom will receive two honors: Tomorrow at the Friar’s Club gala and, Thursday, from the songwriters Hall of Fame. We hope to have some reports. Meanwhile, 38 years ago today, a review of Tom’s second MSG show was printed. Again, if you were there, we’d love to hear from you.

Here’s the New York Times review of Tom’s second Madison Square Garden concert on Saturday evening, June 12, 1971. This review is by Mike Jahn and was published on Tuesday, June 15, 1971 It’s a short but very interesting review. Who, from reading this, could have possibly imagined the strength and staying power of Tom’s career? Both photos are from 1971. The picture on the left was taken in New York. (What was with that scarf?!) The one on the right, clearly, at a press conference.

TOM JONES EXCELS IN GARDEN RECITAL

Mass hysteria is not reserved for rock concerts and soccer matches. Saturday evening, Tom Jones, the British pop singer, sang before a large crowd at Madison Square Garden. Thousands screamed, women threw their underwear on stage despite the fact that the median age of the people in the audience probably was around 35.

Tom Jones, because of TV exposure and several hit records, not to mention a reasonably impressive singing ability, is a phenomenon. And, like many phenomena, the institutions that have grown around him seem unrelated to him.

Mr. Jones sang My Way, I Who Have Nothing and Bridge Over Troubled Waters, to name a few. He was accompanied by a brass-domminated orchestra, which did well, and by a vocal group, the Blossoms. Tom Jones is a good pop singer in the tradition of Frank Sinatra and Tony Brnnett.

It’s a light, interesting entertainment, which seems to bear little relation to its superstructure; the sexual references, the bad comedy, the women throwing their panties. He seems like a nice guy who sings well. Why can’t it be left at that?

As you may notice in the photo at left (and the link at right) there has been one of Tom’s ties and some commemorative pins — the round one from the MGM and the other from TropWorld — have been added to the raffle. They were donated by a loyal fan who appreciates the cause, understands what having an article of Tom’s clothing can mean to a fan and who volunteered to help.

As noted earlier, the raffle will benefit the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation which, its mission statement says, “works to eradicate breast cancer and improve the quality of women’s health through innovative research, education, and advocacy.”

PayPal, despite a call last Sunday to go over some raffle rules with them, says they won’t accept any further payment* for raffle chances.

So, if you you’ll find new instructions.

*If you’ve already entered, no problem. Your entry is recorded and paid for.

Of course, if you’d just like to donate to this very worthy cause, please send a donation.

Please click the link above or to the right to learn how to enter. A lot of unnecessary agita for me, but not much more difficult for you.

The cause was chosen because Tom’s beloved mother Freda Woodward died of breast cancer and so many of us have been touched by this awful illness. Anything that can be done to spare other people from this experience is a worthy cause and Dr. Susan Love is a leader in the field.

Questions? Just email me or ask in the comments section.

Thanks.

Ellen