In 1940, a future music icon was born in a small Welsh town. More than eight decades later, Sir Tom Jones remains one of the most recognizable voices in popular music.
Jones turns 86 on June 7, capping a remarkable career that has spanned more than 60 years, produced more than 100 million records sold worldwide and generated hits across pop, country, soul, R&B and rock.
Known for classics such as “It’s Not Unusual,” “What’s New Pussycat?,” “Green, Green Grass of Home,” “Delilah,” “She’s a Lady” and “Sex Bomb,” Jones has enjoyed a level of longevity few artists ever achieve. He has scored hits in multiple eras, reinvented himself repeatedly and remained a popular live performer well into his 80s.
While many artists struggle to stay relevant after their initial success fades, Jones has built a reputation as one of music’s great comeback stories.
In 2012, British GQ named him its Legend of the Year and praised his ability to continually reinvent himself. The magazine wrote that Jones had “got it all back again more times than anyone can remember” and called him “the king of the comeback.”
That same year, Jones was enjoying a new wave of popularity as a coach on The Voice UK while also earning critical acclaim for his later-career albums Praise & Blame and Spirit in the Room.
His enduring appeal has always started with the instrument that made him famous.
In 2013, Rolling Stone praised “The Power and Magnificence of Sir Tom Jones,” noting that even in his 70s he remained a formidable vocalist. The publication wrote that his voice “has long given him his nickname as ‘The Voice’ in his homeland.”
Jones’ remarkable range and versatility have allowed him to move seamlessly between genres throughout his career. The singer has recorded everything from gospel and country to soul and contemporary pop while maintaining the powerful vocal style that first made him a star during the British Invasion.
His career began in earnest in 1965 when “It’s Not Unusual” became an international hit and reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom. The success launched a run of chart hits that included the James Bond theme “Thunderball,” “What’s New Pussycat?” and “Green, Green Grass of Home.”
Along the way, Jones earned a Grammy Award for Best New Artist, two Brit Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 for services to music.
Yet perhaps his most impressive accomplishment is simply his staying power.
More than 60 years after his breakthrough, Jones continues to record, perform and introduce his music to new generations of fans. For an artist whose greatest asset has always been his voice, that voice remains remarkably strong.
At 86, Tom Jones is still proving why he earned the nickname in the first place.
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