Tom Jones International

It was Mike Weatherford, the entertainment reporter from the Las Vegas Review Journal who, back in 2008, first alerted TJI to the fact that Tom Jones was about to open for the 40th consecutive year in Las Vegas. That, he reckoned, was more consecutive years than any other entertainer on The Strip could boast of accumulating. (Although some may have played here longer they didn’t do so consecutively.) (An interview request by another reporter working on the story was denied.)

In today’s (January 29th) Las Vegas Review Journal Weatherford writes about “Two Las Vegas Legends” leaving The Strip, comic Shecky Green (“forced”) and Tom Jones (“retiring voluntarily”). He tells of an issue with Greene’s last appearance here and then says:

But some fans of Tom Jones claim that barring a last-minute miracle, 2011 will break the eternal sex god’s streak of performing on the Strip every year since 1968. It should be said that Jones has played only a handful of U.S. shows this year, but here in town David Copperfield basically took over the MGM Grand theater Jones has played for years.

“People are honestly upset, hurt and angry,” says Ellen Sterling, who runs a Jones-devoted website. “People have invested a lot of money and time” to see him in Las Vegas.

One of them is 81-year-old New Yorker Mary Pascale, forced to break a tradition [of seeing Tom Jones annually] for “the first year in my life since 1969. … It’s most depressing for me.”

Would it rub salt in the wound to mention that age-old rival Engelbert Humperdinck returned to the Strip this year after an exile in the suburbs?

Moderator’s Note: So unless Tom shows up in the next two days and plays a public gig in Las Vegas, the book on his record is closed. That is so sad because fans come to see him there from around the world — literally “from around the world” — and Tom has said many times that enjoys playing Las Vegas.

---

One of the few shows Tom played in the US in 2011 was at the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Festival on May 1.HitFix Blogger Melinda Newman included Tom’s NOLA show in her best of the year. She’s got great credibility, is the former West Coast Bureau Chief for Billboard Magazine with more than 15 years of experience in the music industry. She covers music and entertainment for the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Associated Press, MSN, AOL and other outlets. She wrote in a post titled, “My top nine concerts of 2011 featuring Adele, Death Cab for Cutie and Tom Jones?:”

“Tom Jones, Jazz Fest, New Orleans, May 1: How can he still be this hot and sexy at 71? Maybe it was the magic in the New Orleans air or he just has his own brand of voodoo that follows him wherever he goes, but even the men were swooning as Jones soared through hit after hit with that sultry baritone of his to close out the first weekend of Jazz Fest. He paid tribute to *NOLA with St. James Infirmary and Hey Pocky Way, but, of course, left room for She’s a Lady, and It’s Not Unusual. His encore of Prince’s Kiss was fun, but left everyone wanting more.”

*NOLA=New Orleans, Louisiana

Hope you all had a great weekend. If you missed the posts December 23 and 25, please take some time to check them out. Good music and good memories in each.

Rumor Or Reality? Last year, when Tom played at the Newmarket Racecourse summer concert series, his gig was sold out in June.

In an October 9 post, TJI wrote: “In October, 2011, the racecourse announced, “THE visit of Welsh crooner Tom Jones to Newmarket’s racecourse in August was the course’s most profitable ‘racing plus music’ night in its 25 years of hosting them.

The news was revealed by the course owner, The Jockey Club, which also announced that it had seen a record total attendance to its programme of racing plus music events in 2011 across its courses nationwide.

“The fixtures, which saw competitive racing followed by performances from a music act such as Sir Tom Jones, Scissor Sisters and Blondie, welcomed 302,032 people in 2011. This compares with 297,750 attendees in 2010.

“Paul Fisher, group managing director of Jockey Club Racecourses, said: ‘Our 2011 music programme has generated a seven-figure return on our investment, which we are directing straight into our sport, in line with The Jockey Club’s mission to act for the good of British horseracing.

“’Despite a very tough marketplace for music festivals and events, this was our third most profitable year ever from racing plus music fixtures.

“Sir Tom Jones, who joined other top acts to celebrate Newmarket Nights’ 25th anniversary, attracted a crowd of 21,980 – the course’s most profitable music night ever.”

As for the “Rumor Or Reality” part, TJI has learned from someone in Suffolk — not Suffolk County, Long Island (where I lived) or Suffolk County, Massachusetts, but the Suffolk County in England where the racecourse is located — that Newmarket Racecourse is negotiating to again offer Sir Tom in a racing and music event.

The gig will happen, TJI is told, “if the price is right.”

Let’s hope for more news soon — and maybe some news about North American gigs? The Hollywood Theatre at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is free from January 31 through February 6 and, again, after March 4.

---

December 28 is the birthday of someone many of us know and of whom we are very fond — the world’s best drummer, Herman Matthews!

If you’re in the Los Angeles area, you can celebrate with him at:
Cafe Cordiale • 14015 Ventura Blvd • Sherman Oaks, CA 91423-3511 (818) 789-1985 • Live music starts at 9:00pm
On December 28, Herman will be playing with the band, Babylon Social Club that night and, the following night, he’ll be there playing with Never Not Broken. Same time, same place, same great drummer!

In 1969 and 1970, This Is Tom Jones happened to be broadcast on December 25. Naturally, Tom did Christmas material. The first year, among other things, Tom and the Treorchy Male Choir performed A Child’s Christmas In Wales, the by immortal Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas. In 1970, the Choir was back, along with Ella Fitzgerald and, in a departure from Tom’s usual variety material, he hosted ballet dancer Rudolph Nureyev and prima ballerina Merle Park, dancing the pas-de-deux from The Nutcracker Suite, an annual Christmas tradition in much of the world. (I saw Nureyev and Park dance — other ballets — and each is wonderful.)

You can watch a bit more than 40 minutes of Tom Jones holiday video (in two parts) in the TJI.com Video Library.

(And, if you have the free app, RealPlayer downloader you can download it. Go to the Real Player website.)

Be sure to visit TJI Sunday, Christmas Day, for very special holiday videos! It will be posted at 12 a.m. Pacific time on December 25.

Back in the day when there were active Tom Jones Fan Clubs, Tom sent a a holiday greeting to club presidents and members. It wasn’t personal, of course, but it gave everyone a sense that fans were important. As we know, these days there are few, if any entertainers who mail such stuff. Why should they when they can post a greeting online?

Anyway, to download a PDF of Tom’s 1980 holiday greeting to “Fan Club Presidents and Members,” click here.

Because this is one of your moderator’s favorites: Do you remember (around 2004) when Tom would sing What Am I Living For? He’d always say the same thing before he sang the song. He’d say this. Of course, as noted here before, Chuck Willis recorded the song in 1958.

Tom recorded it in 1969 for the BBC sessions. When he brought it back in this century, people just loved it but that early recording never did much and, therefore, wasn’t heard much. Tom did record it more recently. It is on the CD and DVD of the 2005 Australian tour he did with John Farnham. Here is Tom singing What Am I Living For? on the terrific live CD of that tour.

Finally, if you click here you can listen to that 1969 version of What Am I Living For?

Happy Chanukah to all!

File this under “Rumor or Reality” and, as you know, it’s not official until you see it on OFFICIAL TomJones or it’s announced on Sky TV.

Apparently Tom told BBC Radio 2 that 22 year-old Lianne La Havas (right) will be his assistant on The Voice. The assistant’s job is to…..well, assist. She will work with contestants, with the coach (Tom) and help keep things running smoothly.

LaHavas is a singer herself. She released an EP this year and, signed to Warner Bros. Records, she will release her first full album in 2012.

When she was on TV with Jools Holland (who I really wish would tour North America) she sang a song she wrote called Age. It’s terrific (and, ironically applicable to this topic). She has played in North America and next month has two dates in the Netherlands — in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Then it’s a tour around England. She is surely one to watch. You can check out her website.

Click here to watch Lianne La Havas on Jools Holland’s Later singingAge.

You can go to her website for a free download of a live EP recorded in Los Angeles.

---

And, speaking of Tom Jones on TV, Comedy Central News in the UK & Ireland is, like so much of the UK press really nasty about the story that Tom will do the Sky TV sitcom. (They call it a “romcom.”) It’s not a new story, but the headline is rude — as we’ve come to expect when the UK press talks about him. They write, “But can he be hilarious as well as orange?” And, yet, someone who arranges things for Tom apparently isn’t bothered by this kind of crap, not caring that his treatment in the press is leagues better in other European countries, the US, Canada and around the world. It is really disgusting.

If one is a native of New York City and happens to know anyone of a certain age who went to Brooklyn’s Erasmus Hall High School – the first public high school in the USA — then one probably has met at least one person who went to Erasmus and who claims to have been there at the same time as the school’s most famous alumna, Barbra Streisand. Now, it doesn’t matter if the person is older or younger then Streisand. As long as the approximate age is close, the claim is often made — even when totally untrue. (I know, PNR, you never claimed to go when Barbara did! I didn’t mean you!)

Ceri Haggett (right) is a Welsh singer/songwriter with, I think, a good — if sometimes a tad tasteless — sense of humor. And he’s written a song. The premise is:

“YOU’VE EVER SPOKEN TO SOMEONE FROM PONTIPRIDD, I GUARANTEE THAT WITHIN 30 SECS THEY’LL MENTION A CERTAIN PERSON….THEY CANNOT HELP IT….THEY ALLLLLLL RECKON THEY KNOW HIM!…….IMPOSSIBLE I SAY!”

In the song he mentions how Tom’s CD (Praise and Blame) was supposed to be number 1 but it was number 2…and so on.

Anyway, it’s a bit gross and infantile in spots and you stand warned. If you don’t think you can deal with it, don’t watch it. But it is (according to the moderator’s informal survey) funny. There’ll be special holiday stuff up soon.

Meanwhile, click here to see Living Next door To Tom Jones.

Haggett was a friend of the late Stuart Cable and he posted a video in Cable’s memory. Check that out, too.

Bridgend is a town in Wales, 22 miles west of Cardiff. Each year, it is the location of the Bridgend Feastival, an alternative food festival.

This year, local artist Nathan Wyburn used toast and Marmite as his media to draw celebrity pictures. to draw celebrity portraits.

Marmite is a spread for toast made from yeast. Its flavor is interesting — so interesting that its ad says,”Marmite: Love It or Hate It.”

Of course, it was Wales and the topic was celebrities, so one of those he drew on toast was Sir Tom Jones. Click here to see the creation of Sir Tom Jones’ portrait in Marmite.

Do you think it was yummy?

Note: Working on some really nice holiday video and audio posts. Be sure to check back.

There are two (2) calendars remaining for sale. If you want one, please hurry!

And, if you missed it, be sure to catch the Mars Attacks! material linked in the post below. Lots of fun and a taste of Sir Tom Jones, the actor.

Tom’s official site commented on the story that he’ll be doing a sitcom next year. The “exclusive” story in The Sun said in part:

“The 71-year-old — famous for being pelted with knickers while on stage — will be fought over by a number of women of a certain age.

“Two will be played by British acting royalty Brenda Blethyn and Alison Steadman.

“A show source said: ‘It’s very top secret but Tom has agreed to do it which is pretty exciting as he doesn’t really do acting.

“’He won’t be playing himself but his character isn’t a million miles away from his own. Essentially it’s a very British love story. Tom’s character is the subject of attention from hordes of women but his heart is not in the sleeping around game.’

“He ends up getting together with a childhood sweetheart, played by Alison, and the show is all about how sweet that kind of love is.’

“The new show, provisionally titled King Of Neds, will air on Sky Arts.”

From Tom’s official site Tuesday comes a comment:

TJ.com Comments on The Sun’s “Tom Jones to play ageing lothario” Article

December 13th, 2011 | By TomJones.com

Regarding the article published in The Sun newspaper on December 12: this is a piece full of misinformation and inaccuracies. Check this space early next year for an announcement about this exciting project from Sky TV.

Moderator’s Note: One might assume that Management was upset about remarks in the article about Tom’s personal life. Also, I know for a solid fact that Tom’s management does not like any announcement about his career that does not come from them. While that may be understandable, in today’s world it’s pretty difficult to contain news of general interest. As a journalist and a publicist (I don’t ever write about what I publicize) I am very, very aware that the person who releases the story has most control over it. Right now, this story is controlled by the tabloid press. That’s why a professional publicist who knows how to deal with such breaks may well be very a necessary addition to the Mnagement’s team.

Whatever, if the show happens with that cast, Sir Tom is in good company. Brenda Blethyn is a terrific actor, seen in Secrets and Lies, Little Voice, A River Runs Through It and many other films of note. Steadman, too, (The Singing Detective) is also an award-winning actress. It should be terrific.

It is also worth noting for TJ fans in the USA that a sitcom series in the UK is not an entire 32 week season as it is here. There, a season is six or seven weekly episodes so that, at least, is good news.

Finally, which Jones? Yahoo UK& Ireland asks “Who’s your favourite Tom – Jones or Hanks…?” You might want to cast a vote for Jones. He didn’t do well in the first eight responses. There are a couple of days left to answer.

Some people received their calendars on Saturday. Linda G. wrote: “Just received my calendar. Great pictures and job well done again!!! But could I get a full-sized copy of the August photo on the left? Looks like the picture was cropped and I’d like to have it all. LOL. Thanks Ellen for giving a great holiday gift. Hope we get to see him in person again soon.” Janice wrote, “Got my calendar today!! Awesome!! Great job!!”

It’s very gratifying to get comments like these because the annual calendar is, really!, a labor of love. I have fun doing it. (Sadly, I have to disappoint Linda about the August photo on the right. That’s the way it is.) The money is nice but, considering the time and work put in, it is rather incidental (though appreciated). This year, with prices for printing and postage going up, keeping it the price same as before was sort of difficult. Next year, with postage already costing hundreds of dollars and due to go up next year, the price may go up a bit. But, I really, really, hope you like it. Please share your reaction when you get it.

This year, also, there was a press overrun and more were printed and sent than I ordered. So, there are still a two (2) calendars available for purchase. I’ve reposted the button at right. If you’re interested, please hurry, as there are just a few. I will get them in the mail quickly in an effort to get them to you before the new year. It will arrive in the US; try my best outside.

---

Rumor or Reality? The Sun claims in an exclusive article today by Colin Robertson that Sir Tom will act in a comedy on Sky TV next year. Remember! It’s not official until it’s posted on OFFICIAL TomJones. They say:

Tom Jones to play ageing lothario
BUSY Sir Tom Jones has signed up for another TV slot – and this time he’s ACTING, in a comedy.

The Welsh singing legend, last week unveiled as a judge on BBC1 talent show The Voice UK, will play an ageing lothario in a Sky TV rom-com.

The 71-year-old — famous for being pelted with knickers while on stage — will be fought over by a number of women of a certain age.

Two will be played by British acting royalty Brenda Blethyn and Alison Steadman.

A show source said: “It’s very top secret but Tom has agreed to do it which is pretty exciting as he doesn’t really do acting.

“He won’t be playing himself but his character isn’t a million miles away from his own. Essentially it’s a very British love story. Tom’s character is the subject of attention from hordes of women but his heart is not in the sleeping around game.

“He ends up getting together with a childhood sweetheart, played by Alison, and the show is all about how sweet that kind of love is.”

The similarities with Tom’s real life are obvious. He married his childhood sweetheart at 16 and they are wed to this day. But it hasn’t all been plain sailing, especially for wife Melinda, who has had to put up with his serial womanising.

The new show, provisionally titled King Of Neds, will air on Sky Arts.

It is set for broadcast next year before Tom gets busy with The Voice.

---

Tomorrow, December 13, is the 15th anniversary of the release of Mars Attacks! The movie starred Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito, Martin Short, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael J. Fox, Rod Stieger, Lukas Haas, Natalie Portman, Jim Brown, Lisa Marie, Sylvia Sidney Christina Applegate, Joe Don Baker, Pam Grier, Paul Winfield, Jack Black and — oh, yes — Tom Jones.

Watching the movie, it is very clear that Tom has a good time doing it. To illustrate the fact that the movie was fun, TJI.com has for you today:

One of two trailers (“Trailers” is what we call “previews” or “coming attractions” in the USA.): This one has as its theme the subtitle of the movie. Click here to see Mars Attacks: Nice Planet. We’ll Take It.

There’s a clip of Tom being interviewed on Entertainment Tonight about the movie, as well as the other trailer (the one with “Tom Jones — Yes! Tom Jones!”) and Tom’s big sequence in the movie with Jim Brown (in the gladiator costume), Danny DeVito and Annette Bening.

You can watch these — edited together as one video — in the TJI.com Video Library.It’s all great fun but, due to the video source (the ET video) and the size constraints of the Video Library site, it’s not as sharp as it should be. Still, lots of fun. And it includes my favorite quote from the movie. It’s what Tom responds when Jim Brown asks him if he can fly a plane. Enjoy!

Occasionally, one comes across old news stories that may hold interest for Tom’s fans. In the brief item below, it’s easy to understand — in light of the disaster that was news worldwide just weeks before — why Tom didn’t want to be a miner and wanted so badly for his father to leave that life. It’s a very human, natural, response.

On November 20, 1968, at 5:30 a.m., an explosion in a West Virginia coal mine was so large it was felt 12 miles away. At the time there were 99 miners inside. Of those, 21 managed to escape and the other 78 were lost. Of those who died, 19 bodies were never recovered.

Talking about the disaster the following January, Tom Jones said, “My father was a coal miner. He didn’t seem to mind, but I wouldn’t do it. As soon as I made some money, I tried to get him out. He wouldn’t listen. He was the father and didn’t believe I could support him and my mother — and my own wife and son — by singing. So I got my mother to work on him; he quit. He just learned to drive a ca. It’s a good time they having, but he still talks about the old mining days as though he missed them.”