Despite his earlier comments that he would cease touring if his wife predeceased him, Tom 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, also 75, 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 yesterday (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.”
Today (April 28), comes news of a new concert performance – with Van Morrison – at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl on October 13.
And, according to Jones’ website, dates previously booked for the U.K. and Europe are still on. Those begin on June 8 with a three-night stint at London’s Hampton Court Palace Festival and continue through early August.
The Hollywood Bowl date, with Morrison – a fellow recipient of British knighthood – is currently Jones’ sole U.S. date. Tickets are available here.
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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.
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. 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.
Will Jones and Morrison tour together? Best Classic Bands will continue to follow this story.
