A Fine Vintage

With a career spanning six decades, who better to open Dubai Jazz Festival than the legendary Sir Tom Jones?

- Kristan J Caryl

Tom Jones is the gift that keeps on giving. He’s been belting out hits across six decades, and each time a new generation comes along they assume him as their own. From the hip-swivelling icon that counted Elvis and Sinatra among his buddies, the 76-year-old singer has had more comebacks than a boomerang, and is currently one of the most popular coaches on hit UK TV show The Voice. Why? Well, because he’s perennially grounded and human, rather than highfalutin and disconnected from the real world.

Part of the reason for that may be because he actually started out in life with a real job: at just 16 he and his high school girlfriend – with whom he remained until she passed away – had a child a month after getting wed. It meant young Jones had to step up and provide for his family, so he took a job in a glove factory and later went into construction. By then, though, he already had the music bug.

Born Thomas Woodward in Glamorgan, South Wales, he started singing at an early age and did so at family gatherings, weddings and for the church choir. A timid lad who didn’t like sports or school, his singing was what gave him confidence and won him friends. While many of his peers were fated to go down the mines and work long hard hours in awful conditions, Jones avoided it because of serious illness. At 12 he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and spent two years in bed recovering, doing nothing but drawing and listening to music.

This education was more important than his formal education, and the American soul he listened to is what fomented his trademark deep and bluesy, full-throated and robust baritone style.

Of course, a certain amount of sex appeal also stands him out and has made him a favourite with young ladies and more mature women all throughout his career: few other singers can have had as many thousands of pairs of knickers thrown at them than ol’ Tom.