We were wondering out loud recently when the great Tom Jones would announce some additional tour dates. On July 18, we shared good news for North and South American audiences about a slew of September and October concerts. The legend indicated that there were more to come and today (July 20), he announced several additions including dates in New York, Chicago and elsewhere, to fill in some of the gaps (see below).
As we noted this spring, despite his earlier comments that he would cease touring if his wife predeceased him, Jones has decided to continue performing. Jones’ wife of 59 years, Lady Melinda Rose Woodward, lost her battle with cancer when she died at 75 on April 10, 2016. The singer, now 76, had abruptly canceled his entire Asian tour a week earlier when it was revealed that there was a serious illness of a member of his immediate family.
On his Facebook page on April 27, Jones wrote: “A heartfelt Thank You to all who sent notes of their sympathy and support to me and my family over the last couple of weeks. So many beautiful and meaningful things were said, and reading these genuine and lovely messages has lifted us all. See you soon.”
The very next day, a new concert performance was announced- with frequent touring companion Van Morrison, a fellow recipient of British knighthood – at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl on October 13.
Jones is currently touring the U.K. and Europe. Those dates began on June 8 with a three-night stint at London’s Hampton Court Palace Festival and continue through early August.
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Jones has had 19 Top 40 singles in the U.S. and sold some 100 million records worldwide. A fan of American blues and soul singers and Elvis Presley (the two later became friends), he was seen in a club in his native Wales in 1964 by manager Gordon Mills, who helped shepherd Jones to international fame. He broke through in the U.S. as part of the British Invasion when “It’s Not Unusual” went Top 10. He also scored hits with the themes for the films What’s New Pussycat? (written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David) and Thunderball. He went on to win the 1966 Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
Related: Watch Jones and Joplin tear it up
His other hits include “She’s A Lady,” “Green, Green Grass of Home” and “Delilah.” Jones hosted a variety show, This Is Tom Jones, that aired on ABC-TV from 1969 to 1971 that featured some of the biggest guests in classic rock. Though his presence on the U.S. pop charts faded by the 1980s, he continued to place songs in the American country charts throughout that decade. In recent decades he has continued to win new and younger listeners with his recordings of cover songs like Prince’s “Kiss” and Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House” as well as his own co-written tune “Sex Bomb” and albums produced by Wyclef Jean and Jack White. He was Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006.
Related: Jones’ Decca LPs box set coming
Tom Jones 2016 Tour (Tickets are on sale here; if not available, try here):
Sept 11 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Luna Park
Sept 13 – Sao Paulo, Brazil – Citibank Hall
Sept 17 – Windsor, Ont – Caesars
Sept 18 – Rama, Ont – Casino Rama Resort
Sept 20 – Philadelphia, PA – Tower Theater
Sept 21 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
Sept 23 – Boston, MA – Orpheum, Theatre
Sept 24 – Mashantucket, CT – Grand Theater at Foxwoods
Sept 25 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre
Sept 28 – Montclair, NJ – Wellmont Theater
Sept 29 – Pittsburgh, PA – Benedum Centre
Oct 01 – Northfield, OH – Hard Rock Rocksino
Oct 02 – Louisville, KY – Louisville Palace
Oct 03 – Chicago – IL – House of Blues
Oct 05 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
Oct 07 – Tulsa, OK – Brady Theatre
Oct 08 – Thackerville, OK – Winstar Casino
Oct 11 – San Francisco, CA – Nob Hill Masonic Centre
Oct 13 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
Related: Van Morrison announces new album, tour dates
