Tom Jones at 70

# I saw the light on the night that I passed by her window...#

Tom Jones, a living pop legend and international superstar.

When Tom delivers a song, it is electric.

That's a thing he has and others don't.

He still gives the impression of being hard working and hard living.

It's just extraordinary, the gift that he has.

This instrument comes from inside him.

It's just absolutely amazing. He sounds so creamy and nice.

# The old home town looks the same...#

Now celebrating his 70th birthday,

and after 50 years at the top of the entertainment industry,

everyone thinks they know the singing icon, Sir Tom Jones.

But it's those back home in Wales who remember the beginning of his story.

In his own mind, he just wanted to sing,

whether it would be in front of millions or just a couple of people.

His life was singing.

Tom was always singing, but I don't think anybody had any idea

that he'd hit the big time like he did.

His voice is tremendous, great and powerful. Great timbre to it.

# Yea-a-a-a-a-ah...#

Still recording, still touring, still performing.

Wales' greatest export shows no signs of stopping.

MALE VOICE CHOIR SINGING

70 years ago, a child was born in the South Wales industrial valleys

with the voice that would bring him worldwide fame and fortune.

Christened Thomas John Woodward,

Tom grew up in a working class family and community in Pontypridd.

Close family friend Gillian Larke Coles

fondly recalls those childhood days.

I grew up with Tom Jones, actually.

I've always known him. He's always been in my life.

I used to watch him walking down the street

when I was standing on my back door.

He walked as if, you know, like a king walking down. Always singing.

Very sociable. Always speak to everybody.

Um...

Yeah, he was lovely guy. Everybody loved him. Everybody.

# You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain... #

As a teenage boy in the 1950s, Tom was in love with Rock 'n' Roll.

His hero was the Great Balls of Fire himself, Jerry Lee Lewis.

I didn't realise he's a Jerry Lee fanatic.

I thought I was Jerry Lee's number one fan. I'm not. he is.

As soon as I started playing,

he started singing and we realised we knew these songs.

So we were really having fun.

# Well, kiss me, baby

# Wooh

# Feels good

# Hold me, baby

# Why don't you let me love you like a lover should?

# You're fine, so kind... #

He had a different kind of voice and it was said if you didn't know Tom,

you'd have thought he was a coloured man singing. He's got that sort of voice.

His voice from a youngster has always been exactly as it is now,

pure Welsh Valleys voice!

# I owe my soul to the company store... #

Earning a living from singing was a long-term dream for Tom.

But his father was a coal miner

and the young Tommy Woodward was expected to find work and pay his way.

In 1956, Victor Fry worked with Tom at the Glove factory in Treforest.

Tom was a glove cutter.

He was a good worker but Tom loved to sing all day.

Sometimes, to the annoyance of the boss, his supervisor,

Mr Howells.

On many an occasion, he was told to shut up!

Tom always had a confidence about him.

He was a snappy dresser, compared to other people in the factory.

They'd come around from the sewing room just to look at Tom

and find an excuse and go back in there.

Someone else would come back with the same item or same complaint just to find out how Tom was.

Tom was very often coming in the morning, tired, because he'd been out till 11 o'clock in the night,

singing, and then having to come home in the car or whatever vehicle they had at the time.

Some mornings, he'd be shattered coming to work.

But he seemed to manage to get through the day.

After two years cutting gloves, Tom's life was about to change

and it was time to move on from the factory.

One reason Tom left was because there was more money on the building site

and he got married, Melinda was having a baby, and he needed more money.

Of course, the building paid more money.

# Well, be bop a-lulah, she's my baby... #

Tom and his childhood sweetheart, Melinda Rose Trenchard,

tied the knot aged just 16 in March 1957.

And the happy arrival of a son named Mark followed a month later.

Tom was gaining a reputation and a unique singer

and it wasn't going unnoticed by the local bands.

Vernon Mills Hopkins had a group, The Senators.

One night, their lead singer failed to show at a booking for the YMCA in Pontypridd.

Opportunity knocked for Tom Woodward.

This is the place where we had a residency on a Friday night.

The band, and when Tom Jones first joined The Senators.

The stage was there and on this particular night,

our singer Tommy Pitman didn't turn up,

so during the interval, I rushed through town to the White Hart,

where I knew Tom would be drinking, and coaxed him to come back.

It was on one condition - that I smuggled in some light ales

because it was dry, the YMCA.

So we came back, the stage was there, red curtains going across,

and the place was absolutely heaving, as usual.

So we got behind the curtain

and we decided - what are we going to sing? We hadn't worked out anything. What are we going to sing?

I said, "We'll just knock out some rock 'n' roll," some 12 bar stuff.

I said, "What are we going to start on?" He said, "Do you know Balls of Fire?"

I said, "Yeah, what key?" "C," he said.

So the curtains open and this huge voice comes out...

# Goodness gracious great balls of fire... #

After a few numbers, he started feeling his feet and he was swinging across the stage.

By the time we finished, everybody was going mad.

A very defining moment in his career.

Now calling himself Tommy Scott,

Tom joined the band and they played together locally as Tommy Scott and the Senators.

# Tell me what I see

# Tell me what I see, tell me what I see... #

I first met Tom Jones probably mid 1962.

He was Tommy Scott then, of course.

We used to work at the Empress Ballroom in Abercynon.

Tommy Scott and the Senators were the support act, so to speak.

# I wanna know, I wanna know, easy now... #

The great thing about The Senators was Tom's voice, I must be honest.

He did have a fantastic voice and you couldn't place it anywhere

because at the time, it was Cliff Richard, Elvis Presley - he didn't sound like either of them.

He was doing Presley songs and Cliff songs and Gene Vincent stuff and bits and bobs like that,

but he had a distinctive voice of his own.

I must be honest, his voice was fantastic.

# When you hold my hand

# And tell me that I'm your lover man... #

The band was spotted one night in the Top Hat Club in Cwmtillery

by budding music impresario Gordon Mills,

who whisked them off to London and planned launching them into the music scene when the time was right.

# Baby, chills and fevers

# Chills and fevers... #

I think everybody missed Tom, going to London, because he was always around. He was everywhere, Tom.

Pontypridd missed him. It was a big void in Pontypridd

because he was the voice of Pontypridd. He put it on the map.

# Oh baby, Lucille

# Baby, satisfy my heart, oh yeah

# Well... #

Right, good. Tom, I think you could improve it.

The band was renamed Tom Jones and the Squires in 1964.

They were recording demo disks and waiting for the big break.

But they were living more like paupers than princes.

We had a pound a day to live on between us, which was enough for one meal and...

whoever smoked, a packet of ten Woodbines between us.

It was either two meals or it was that and a pint, one pint of beer.

We all loved a pint, being Welshmen.

So that was it - so our weight went down, we went thin and down at heel

and really cheesed off.

I came into the flat one morning and Tom was sat there on his bed.

He had his head in his hands, like that, and you could see he was down

and I said, "What's up, Tom? You're looking down." He had tears in his eyes.

He said, "I nearly threw myself under a train this morning

"in Notting Hill Gate." I said, "What?" He said, "Yup."

He said, "I've been to see Gordon and asked for a few pounds more to send to Linda,"

because she was going hungry down there, you know, poverty.

"He refused." He said, "I can't do it because the money's running out. I've sold my car, my watch.

"It looks as if it's going to be the end." He felt he had nothing to live for.

I said, "Let's get out of this dump and go for a cup of tea."

So we went out into the sunshine and he was alright after that.

And then, as it happened, shortly after that,

Gordon came banging on the door one morning and said, "I want you to go into the studios

"to cut a demo. I've got a song called Not Unusual for Sandy Shaw."

They did take it to Sandy Shaw and her manager turned it down because of the way Tom sang it, I think,

really powerful, and she turned it down.

So...that was it. The rest is history, as they say.

# It's not unusual to be loved by anyone

# It's not unusual to have fun with anyone

# But when I see you hanging about with anyone

# It's not unusual to see me cry... #

We'd heard there was going to be this record coming out of his.

My goodness, I couldn't believe it...

Immediately, it was such a fantastic sound.

The song itself, the way Tom sang it, it was made for him.

It must have been waiting for him to be called

because it was unbelievable to think that...

It's unbelievable when you know somebody.

We didn't think he was going to do it so big afterwards but he snowballed into fame.

Come on!

He was sexy, it was loud, he was aggressive in his performance.

I think before him, there were other singers but they didn't have the same authenticity as him.

They didn't have the same gravitas,

they didn't have the same attitude when they were singing the song.

When Tom sings it, it's real. To this day, that's what it is.

I think that's what set him aside from a lot of the other singers

and made you realise, he wasn't putting it on, this was real.

# Oh, baby, Lucille

# Baby, satisfy my heart, yeah... #

He was, I think, one of the first British rock 'n' roll singers.

Hello, Tom. Well, Lucille - is that going to be your next release?

No, we just come in... In the week, we do quite a few numbers, keep them in the can, you know.

I'm told that you appeal to middle aged women as much as teenagers. Why do you think this is?

Well, erm... A lot of middle aged people write to the fan club

and say that they think I've got a good voice. I'm very pleased about that.

OK, once again, from the top.

-Right then.

-One, two three...

It seemed that everyone wanted a bit of Tom Jones

and after two number ones and a gold disk in 1968,

Tom and the Squires became America's most wanted show.

And Las Vegas was ready and waiting for Wales' biggest act.

# What's new pussycat, woah

# What's new pussycat, woah... #

That was where I met Elvis. I rushed backstage, burst into Tom's dressing room.

I said, "You're not gonna believe this. Elvis is in the building!"

You can imagine it, the adrenalin, having Elvis in the audience.

The part where Tom decided to introduce him.

He said, "In the audience tonight,

"a gentleman I've admired and been inspired by,"

and so on, "and he's here tonight. Mr Elvis Presley!"

And there was a whoof, and a boom, boom, boom, like that, the place erupted.

He stood up and he was bowing and everybody, they wouldn't stop.

I looked at Tom and Tom looked across and I said...

And so he said, "Hold it, hold it, hold it.

"Thank you very much," he said.

"Don't forget, I'm the star tonight."

I went "Oohh..."

I cringed!

And Elvis got up and said... He started to clap his hands, agreeing. But I was, "Oh God!"

He's seen so much. From the beginning, coming from Wales

and going to be a huge star around the world,

going to Las Vegas when it was still a one horse town

before it was built up into the thing it is now,

doing all that stuff, meeting Elvis and Sinatra, doing all those things,

it was great, and just talking to him, he's great.

But very modest. He's happy to tell you. He's just fantastic.

He's one of the... I've bathed in his company!

# The old hometown looks the same

# As I stepped down... #

Flushed with success and becoming a star,

Tom's personal appearances back in the Valley became a celebrity homecoming

each time he arrived back in Pontypridd.

# Down the road I look... #

Here I am, walking in Tom's footsteps,

on his way to town, singing away,

coming back to where the Wheatsheaf pub was, where he sang on his debut.

Going back to where he's parking his car, his new Rolls Royce,

he'd brought back the very first time from London.

Gillian's memories of the young Tom's return are as clear as yesterday,

thanks to a precious piece of family archive.

He came to visit my grandmother, to show the Rolls Royce and what he'd achieved.

We had a bit of fun on the street!

It was a fun day and he absolutely it.

And the success just kept coming.

# I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more

# My, my, my

# Delilah... #

In 1968, Tom was top of the pops again

with a song that was to become his anthem.

A year later, musical differences with the Squires led to Tom Jones splitting with the band

after eight life-changing years together.

# Forgive me, Delilah, I just couldn't take any more... #

# I'm bound to Spain

# I won't remain

# A boy from nowhere... #

The '70s saw Tom launch his solo career.

His own television shows and Las Vegas residencies

were to become Tom's bread and butter for the nest two decades.

# I don't fantasise... #

Rumours were rife that he was about to make America his home.

-I've heard it suggested you're going to live in America.

-No.

But by 1974, the lure of Los Angeles and Dean Martin's mansion

were too strong for Tom and Linda.

Tom is a very proud Welshman, loves his heritage, where he comes from.

The reason why Tom went to America

is because when he started earning big money in the '70s,

the then Labour government were charging him 90% tax.

Well, I think you and I would be the same.

That was the case. I think it was 26% at the time in America,

so that's why he went to the States.

I live in LA - Lower Aberdare!

# You don't have to be rich to be my girl

# You don't have to be cool to rule my world

# Ain't no particular sign I'm more compatible... #

It was the late '80s that brought Jones the Voice to a new audience with Kiss.

# Kiss, think I'd better dance now... #

For the next decade, Tom tried to keep himself in the public eye.

He could have retired, but the desire to record with the hottest new talent

resulted in the hugely successful Reload album in 1999.

They wanted us on the Reload album. At the time, the Cwl Cymru thing was going on.

I knew that Stereophonics had recorded a track for the record,

Cerys from Catatonia had recorded a track as well,

so I suppose we completed the Taff set, I suppose.

We were all quite nervous really.

It's like meeting royalty in a strange way.

And I just remember us bouncing ideas back and forth, Kelly and myself,

about what song we wanted to do for the Reload album

and I just remember this guy coming in and he's a big fellow, he's six foot tall and quite wide.

I remember sitting down and we started talking

and we said, "We've got an idea for the song." He said, "I want to do Mama Told Me Not To Come."

-# Mama told me not to come

-Mama told me not to come

# Mama told me not to come

# She said

# That ain't no way to have fun

# Son... #

Kelly and him sung together and it was really about three passes of the song and Tom was done.

In and out, true professional!

That was super weird. You can imagine me sat behind the drum kit

and I'm looking at the back of Tom Jones' head.

If someone would have told me that 20 years ago, I'd never have believed them.

But I think that's what he liked about the band - we were real and we could play.

# Mama told me, Mama told me, Mama told me, Mama told me

# Mama told me not to come, Mama told me not to come

-# That ain't no way to have fun

-That ain't no way to have fun... #

We were sitting there going - this is my new best mate, how cool is this! He's proper rock royalty.

Maybe I shouldn't have listened!

So many people try to relaunch their careers by being more contemporary

and getting younger people around them, but Reload really worked.

It was nice for us to be a part of it, but it was just gonna work anyway.

Still devoted to Elvis, Tom chose a 1950s single for his duet with James

Really impressive. Really impressive. He nailed it in two takes.

We asked for a third take and he was like, "You won't need that," and we're like, "You're right!"

And then he insisted we go out in the evening, to meet up with him.

It didn't take much encouraging.

We got to a private members bar,

he ate a massive burger, started drinking brandy and smoking cigars

and there was a piano in the next room and everybody in the place was around him

while he leant on the piano with a brandy and sang all night.

It's quite a force of nature e you're talking about.

I love him as a father figure and I think he's a lovely guy.

He turned to me once and said to me... Obviously I've had my haircut now

but people know my hair's quite like Tom's, naturally curly,

and I've got this voice, got similarities as well,

and he turned to me in London and said, "What was your mother doing in 1969?"

I said, "If you were my Dad, let me tell you know, I'd be living in your house in LA

"and I wouldn't be from your side!"

He said, "On second thoughts, you might not be my son!"

That was quite funny of him to say that. I immediately rang my mother

just to make sure that he wasn't my Dad, but...safe to say he's not!

Like all true Welshmen, Tom wanted to play for his country.

The chance came in 1999.

Tom sang with the London Welsh Male Voice Choir

as Wales took on England in the Five Nations rugby at Wembley.

Conductor Haydn James remembers it well.

The thing about Delilah is that it's got that instantly recognisable introduction.

Rum-pum pum-pum-pum pum-pum...

Then you bring in Tom - # I saw the light on the night... #

And then immediately turn to the choir, the band, the crowd...

And they're in!

And from that moment on, it's easy.

# She was my woman... #

He had a slightly different version to the one he was used to.

We went through it literally twice and that's all it took.

He stood in front of the choir, he sang it, he sang the top A at the end like a bell.

And then we went to the pub for a drink!

# My, my, my Delilah

# Why, why, why, Delilah... #

Delilah became part of the rugby repertoire

and we've done it in Cardiff virtually at every game since then.

As far as the choir are concerned, they still talk about the day

that they worked with Tom Jones at Wembley Stadium, singing Delilah, live!

# Forgive me, Delilah, I just couldn't take any more. #

CHEERING

# She's the kind they'd like to flaunt and take to dinner... #

After 50 years in the business,

Tom has a whole army of fans following him worldwide

and they all feel they know him.

Wales' number one fan, Ann Hughes, is one of the most dedicated,

having worshipped her idol since 1963.

This is my shrine to Tom Jones.

I've just enjoyed being in here, so whenever I'm feeling down, this is where I come.

Here's a photograph...

Can you believe it - I gave him the daffodils in Cardiff at Coopers Field.

I didn't think I'd get them to him but I managed to.

After following Tom all these years,

I decided that... I kept seeing names popping up,

such-a-body was being knighted and I thought, what about our Tom?

If anyone deserves a knighthood, he does.

I was campaigning for him for five years for a knighthood.

A written campaign, every week I wrote a letter,

and...I think they were getting fed up with me actually

because they'd just send me cards in the end, saying "your nomination is being looked into",

"put on our files", things like that, and I wouldn't give up until he did actually get this knighthood.

I'm quite pleased about that.

In 2006, Ann's wish came true. Arise, Sir Thomas John Woodward.

# It's not unusual to be loved by anyone

# It's not unusual to have fun with anyone... #

His longevity is about him loving what he plays and playing things people want to hear.

It's not like he's reinventing himself. It's him engaging with different music.

That's what a great artist is.

# What good am I

# If I know and don't do

# If I see and don't say

# If I look straight through... #

2010 and Sir Tom Jones is still releasing new material for his fans to enjoy,

as he marks the milestone of his 70th birthday.

Happy birthday, Tom.

# What is

# Heaven... #

I'm absolutely delighted to be able to wish Sir Tom Jones a very happy 70th birthday.

# I will touch the green, green grass of home... #

Rest the vocal chords, they're too precious to damage. Happy birthday.

# They'll all come to see me... #

I hope many more concerts to come. Keep on doing what you're doing.

# ..Old oak tree, as they lay me

# 'Neath the green, green grass

# Of home. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Thank you.

Jools Holland: One of the sweetest things I've heard this year!

A beautiful, beautiful acoustic version of The Green Green Grass Of Home, Sir Tom Jones!

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