Tom Jones International

I’m back from Australia (note the photo here of a Joey, a baby kangaroo, coming out of its mother’s pouch) and it was a terrific trip. Saw some very excellent shows at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, met a few kangaroos, petted a koala, saw dingos, a Tasmanian Devil — yes! they do exist! — and lots of beautiful sights. Nice to be home and to begin planning my next trip.

According to an item on the website hitfix.com Hugh Laurie’s Let Them Talk CD will be released in the US on September 6. Their track listing has Tom duetting with Irma Thomas on Soul Queen of New Orleans and Baby Please Make A Change does not have a singer listed. Guess we’ll see, huh?

So, back to Sir TJ: Former UK footballer turned TV host Ian Wright had Tom Jones on his show in 1999 (screen shot left).

Also on that episode was former boxing champ Lenox Lewis.

You can watch a clip of the show in the TJI.com Video Library.

Note: The Music Industry Trusts Award (MITA), presented last year to Sir Tom Jones, will be given this year to Jools Holland. Of course, non-Brits know him mostly for his work with Tom. He is a worthy recipient of the 20th anniversary presentation and TJI congratulates him.

‘We’ve done the telly – so now where are we going, son?’ asked Sir Tom Jones…

Daily Mail | Last updated at 10:01 PM on 25th June 2011

“Where are we going after we’ve done the telly then, son?’ Sir Tom Jones asked me with a beguiling grin after doing Radio 2 and The One Show with me on the same day.

I’ve been in this situation before. You’re delighted that a legendary night out is in the offing. But the euphoria is tempered with the panic of having to deliver. To beer and beyond, I decided, but not before enlisting the help of my local Taffia: three man-mountains from Tom’s homeland to help him relax and provide a mobile human fortress for our special production of A Knight On The Town.

Morgs, Adler and Miami Morgs (all over 6ft 5in, one usually lives in Miami – guess which one) rendezvoused with us at my favourite London pub, the Nag’s Head in Belgravia, then went on to my favourite Eighties-style wine bar around the corner for a bottle or seven of Tom Perignon, as my preferred vin fizz will be referred to now and forever more.

The Welsh Mountains couldn’t believe their luck. Other than anyone who’s ever played rugby for Wales at any level, Tom is their absolute hero. He regaled us with tales, from humble beginnings in the working men’s clubs to gems such as ‘and then there was the time I went to buy Dean Martin’s house from him’.

Then, who should walk into this spookily quiet bar but survival expert Bear Grylls and his good friend Roger Federer. Yes, that one. These things often happen to me. I don’t know why. I have long since learnt not to question them and roll with them instead.

Bear and I share the same agent so introductions were soon forthcoming.

‘This is my friend Chris,’ announced Bear to Roger.

‘This is my friend Tom,’ I replied in our unofficial game of Legend Top Trumps.

The Taffia were agog. Bear was agog. I was agog. Roger and Tom were unagog, because they are superstar super-cool. We watched them deftly exchange superstar chit-chat until Bear and The Fed convened to a quiet corner for a quick bite.

Later, Roger came up to me and held out his hand.

‘Very nice place you have here,’ he said in congratulatory tones.

The Fed thought this was my joint? ‘Thank you very much,’ I replied. ‘Please come again.’

The second the door closed, gales of Welsh laughter shook the bar.

‘Oh, I see, you’re the guv’nor!’ roared Tom.

‘Kept that quiet, didn’t you! Looks like we won’t be getting a bill tonight lads!’

From the corner of my eye I saw our barman gleefully unbuckle a magnum of Tom.

Tom Jones wows wet Kenwood crowd

Sir Tom Jones delighted rain-soaked fans with his performance at London’s Kenwood House last night

stv.com

Sir Tom Jones wowed the crowds at London’s Kenwood House last night (24.06.11) as he kicked off the 2011 English Heritage Picnic Concerts.

Thousands of fans braved torrential rain to cheer on the music legend, who combined the gospel tracks from his latest album Praise & Blame with his more well-known hits, including Delilah, It’s Not Unusual, The Green, Green Grass of Home, Kiss and

For the article about Sir Tom’s diet, please click here to (more…)

With Sir Tom Jones playing the festival circuit across Europe and singing some of his biggest hits along with material from Praise and Blame, TJI is posting this video of one of the best songs he’s ever recorded.

To my knowledge, the last time sang it in a show was at the MGM Grand in March, 2005. It’s time to bring it back as a permanent part of the show. Isn’t it?

Click here to revisit a very beautiful song.

Sir Tom was one of the guests with Alex Jones and Chris Evans on The One Show on Friday night.

It’s a lovely appearance — Evans is absolutely fascinated with Tom’s use of humidifiers! — in which Tom discusses his power walking*, the early days, his dad, reacts to some video that is shown (screen shot left) and talks with a space scientist about space travel and about a flat in London (that’s, he said, “her decision.”). He also tastes some delicious and very fattening recipes. (You can find them here if you’d like to make them.)

You can watch Tom on The One Show in the TJI.com Video Library. Thanks to Dre. If you don’t live in the UK, TJI is the only website on which you can access this!

*Race walking: Someone who saw the show asked me what this is. This is a sport that differs from running only in that one foot must always be in contact with the ground. If you want to learn more, check out a book called Pace Walking by Steve Jonas.

There are also stories floating about that Tom will be a panelist on the UK version of The Voice with Cheryl Cole (who was going to be one of the US judges for X Factor until Simon Cowell put the kibosh on it. Also announced for the show is Florence Welch (of Florence + the Machine, not from Wales or from the jelly family). We shall see.

Finally, this is my last week in Australia so I don’t know how much I’ll be able to post, as the last two posts took quite awhile. But do check because I’ll be doing my best.

Chris Evans and Tom Jones.

You can listen to Sir Tom on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on June 17 in the TJI.com Video Library.

The interview lasts more than one hour, 10 minutes. It’s a nice interview and, perhaps, you’ll learn some new things about him.

Enjoy it!

Sir Tom’s trim again after 30lb weight loss

by Kathryn Williams | Western Mail | Jun 18 2011

SIR Tom Jones has lost more than two stone on a “hunter gatherer” style diet.

The 71-year-old Welsh legend said his weight rose to around 16 stones after tucking into Christmas treats.

“I was putting too much weight on,” said the It’s Not Unusual singer.

“I didn’t think I was going to. I left the working out off for a bit, thought I’d keep a check on it.

“And with the Christmas puddings and cakes, which we get sent over, before I knew it I was 230lb, which was 30lb more than I should be. I couldn’t get into my suits. That’s when I thought this has got to stop.”

The singer contacted a dietician who gave him Syndrome X diet book, which advocates returning to basic nutritional values.

“I’d recommend it to anybody,” he told the Chris Evans Breakfast show on BBC Radio 2 yesterday.

“It tells you to get back to the what we used to eat when we were hunters and gatherers. Eat anything that’s natural, meat, fish, veg, which you must eat raw as much as possible.

Cambridge News

Tickets for legendary Welsh singer Tom Jones’ concert at Newmarket Racecourses on Friday, August 12 have already sold out.

Racecourse bosses have confirmed it is one of the fastest-selling concerts of all time for Newmarket Nights.

A total of 22,000 tickets for his concert have been sold.

Stephen Wallis, Newmarket Racecourses managing director, said: “Tom has been performing for more than 46 years and remarkably his career has gone from strength to strength, regularly pulling in big crowds and attracting fans of all ages.

“We are truly delighted and extremely excited to have a true music great performing in Newmarket Nights’ 25th anniversary year.”

Tickets are available, but selling fast, for the other acts at this year’s Newmarket Nights, including: Texas on Friday, June 24; James Blunt on Friday, July 15; Scissor Sisters on Friday, July 22; The Wanted on Friday, July 29; Boyzone on Friday, August 5; Peter Andre on Saturday, August 27.

For more information, visit www.newmarketracourses.co.uk or phone 0844 579 3010.

Sir Tom sings for TMZ.

If you missed it, be sure to read the post below to see how you can participate in Sir Tom’s radio appearance in London on Friday from wherever you are.

Over the years, TMZ has consistently shown its love for Sir Tom Jones, always saying how he’s “cool,” asking “who wouldn’t throw panties at this man,” etc. You can see some of it by putting “TMZ” in the search box top right of each page on TJI. Now, he’s been on TMZ again. Thanks to all who sent me notes about this.

Sir Tom is at the moment back in the green, green grass of home — Los Angeles, California. On Monday he was stopped by a cameraman from TMZ (they have the world’s nicest paparazzi!) and asked about his moment with Carlton on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Introducing his answer, TMZ says, “If Tom Jones wasn’t the coolest guy on Earth before — he is now … because dude busted out a rendition of It’s Not Unusual for a superfan in L.A. yesterday … and yes, it’s freakin’ awesome. Jones also talked about his legendary appearance on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air — when he performed the song with Carlton Banks … aka Alfonso Ribeiro. Classic.”

Click here to watch the larger-than-usual sized video of Tom on TMZ, June 14, 2011.

Note! Because TJI is a fan site and likes to share, you should know that you can download all videos posted on the site to your computer with RealPlayer Downloader (free from RealPlayer.com) or with QuickTime Pro.

If you missed the interviews in the post below, be sure to check them out.

Chris Evans, who hosted the Elvis tribute in London last September and had Tom on his show a couple of times for that, will again be working with Sir Tom. Twice. In one day.

Tom will be co-hosting with Chris Evans Friday, June 17 starting at 8am on BBC Radio 2 and taking part in all the daily features; such as ‘Head to Headliners’ with Moira Stuart and Johnny Saunders, ‘Gobsmackers’ and ‘Top Tenuous’, where Tom has to decide whether the listener’s tenuous claims to having had an encounter with Sir Tom on the street, in a restaurant — or anywhere, are true or false.

The aim is for these associations to be as weak as possible, with the top 10 most tenuous being the ones selected. But, I’d guess that humor goes a long way toward getting your story on the air.

So please, if you have ever had the pleasure of a random encounter with Tom, please get in touch with the Chis Evans Breakfast team!

How do you get in touch? Please read the instructions below carefully so it’ll be easy! Well, in response to a question from a fan about how to do the “Top Tenuous” thing, a member of Chris Evans’ staff said the best way, if you’re in the UK, is to text the show at 88291 with details of your meeting.

If you are outside the UK, they request you email the Chris Evans show. Be sure to put “Tom Jones Top Tenuous” in the subject line.

Sir Tom at the Isle of Wight Festival. (Photo: Press Association Images)

Sir Tom kicked off his round of festivals in Europe at the Isle of Wight on June 11.

You can see a new interview with Sir Tom in the TJI.com Video Library

You can see another interview on the Sky TV site.

It’s interesting that Sir Tom tells the interviewer that he’s never before been to the Isle of Wight. it’s like neighbors I have in Las Vegas who’ve never been to California or those in New York who’ve never been to New Jersey……But, it’s great he’s getting there at last and that he was such a smash….But why put him on at the same time as the Foo Fighters? (And, please, don’t say that they attract different audiences. Maybe they do. But maybe they don’t. It just defies logic.)

Check out the Question of the Month in the June 1 post below. There are new responses being posted every day. If you haven’t, be sure to add your own.

A nice birthday tribute with a video. The radio station posted a video of Tom singing Kiss in 1989. I took the liberty of posting instead another from the same year — Tom singing the incredibly beautiful, should-be-sung-more, ballad, At The Moment. On Monday there’ll be info here on how you can participate in a one of Tom’s media appearance. Be sure to check it out!

Happy 71st Birthday Tom Jones!
Mix 92.5 fm Abilene, TX | By: randyjones | 4 days ago

Happy Birthday to the one and only Tom Jones! He celebrates his 71st today (June 7th). His album from last year ‘Praise and Blame’ showed off a different side of Tom Jones, featuring gospel and soul songs. It is a great listen.

Tom Jones launched his career in a big way back in 1965 with the top 10 hit It’s Not Unusual, and he’s been electrifying audiences in concert up to the present day. In a recent interview, he said that his son admonished him not to become a Vegas cliche, so he now tones down the tight pants and open shirts. However, he admits that he still picks up the underwear thrown on stage occasionally. Check out Tom Jones doing what he does best, performing live:

Click here to see Tom singing At This Moment.

Win tickets for Sir Tom Jones concert
St. Helen’s Star

Send your entries, including a daytime contact number, to: Tom Jones competition, St Helens Star, 23a Hardshaw Street, St Helens, WA11 1RT or email news@sthelensstar.co.uk Closing date is Wednesday, June 15 at noon.