Tom Jones International

Tonight, the Las Vegas community of British ex-pats held a party to celebrate their Britishness at the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino. The evening was highlighted by a show, introduced by Robin Leach, that recalled vintage Vegas. The performers included Zowie Bowie, a bagpipe and drum band and Domenick Allen, former lead singer of Foreigner who also starred in a musical about F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald called The Beautiful and The Damned. I mention that because the musical was written by a songwriter whose work we all know — Les Reed.

It was lots of fun and, at the end of the show, before adjourning to the pub, Zowie Bowie called on the audience to join in singing “a song by a Brit — a Welshman — that everyone knows.” Of course, that was Delilah.

Also at the event was someone I met when I bought a photo he took that he sold on eBay.

His name is Ian Wright the photo is a 1965 shot of Tom. It is part of a terrific book called On The Brink Of Fame.

The book is filled with Ian’s recollections of meeting all the rock and roll stars touring the UK. He began by riding his bicycle to the theaters and just walking backstage with his camera. The book chronicles these adventures and, of course, has loads of photos.

In a chapter called Tom and Gerry, he of course writes about Tom Jones and Gerry Dorsey — er, Engelbert Humperdinck. He tells of the precise circumstances in which the photos were shot and, of Tom he says in part, “Week after week, Tom Jones paid his dues. As a result of all this work, the act was polished and they eventually got booked into the most prestigious nightclub outside London, Newcastle’s La Dolce Vita Club. Gordon Mills and Les Reed wrote It’s Not Unusual for Sandi Shaw, who always performed in her bare feet. Adam Faith (with a number one hit “What Do You Want?”) was Sandi Shaw’s manager and didn’t think the Mills/Reed song was right for her. Gordon then gave the song to Tom and made arrangements to record it November 1964. Three month’s later, PJ Proby was sacked from The Cilla Black Show, Tom Jones and The Squires replaced him and there I was photographing Tom on opening night!”

Check out Ian’s website and the photo of Tom he’s got for sale on eBay. Great photos, as you can see from the shot of a very, very young Mick Jagger. Any fan of Tom’s, Enge’s, The Stones, The Beatles…..any fan of British music in the 60s will really enjoy Ian’s work.