Pop legend and international superstar Tom Jones celebrated his 70th birthday last month and after half a century at the top of the entertainment industry a new BBC One Wales documentary, Tom Jones at 70 (Sunday, July 4, BBC One Wales), narrated by Cerys Matthews, celebrates the man and his music.
Still recording, still touring, still performing – Wales’s greatest musical export shows no signs of stopping.
Seventy years ago a child was born in the industrial south Wales valleys with a voice that would go on to bring him world-wide fame and fortune. Christened Thomas John Woodward, Tom grew up in a working class family and community in Pontypridd.
Close family friend Gillian Lark Coles fondly recalls those childhood days. “In his own mind he just wanted to sing,” she says. “Whether it was to be in front of millions or just two or three people, his life was singing.”
For a boy in the 1950s who was in love with rock ‘n’ roll, school was not Tom’s favourite place to be. Being struck down with tuberculosis which meant he was away from the classroom for two years only increased Tom’s musical passion. But earning a living from singing was a few years away for Tom. His father had been a miner and he was expected to find work and pay his way, so went to work at the local Treforest glove factory.
Victor Fry, who worked there with Tom, says, “Tom was always singing, but I don’t think anybody had any idea that he would hit the big time like he did.”
The documentary takes viewers through Tom’s career from singing with local bands in and around Pontypridd, to his early TV appearances, to Las Vegas and on through his re-discovery by a new generation of music fans in the 90s.
A number of celebrity friends give their own take on Tom’s great singing talent in the programme including acclaimed pianist and TV presenter Jools Holland who says, “When Tom delivers a song it is electric, and that’s the thing he has that other people don’t.”
James Dean Bradfield of the Manic Street Preachers is also a fan. “He still gives the impression of being a hard working, hard living kind of singer,” he says.
And following the documentary there is a chance to see a special one-off film shot to celebrate Tom’s 70th birthday and featuring people from all over Wales singing a version of the classic hit Delilah. Those involved in the special film include staff from Vic Hopkins Butchers in Barry, children and staff from St Mary the Virgin Church in Wales Primary in Butetown, Cardiff, Burry Port RNLI crew, firemen from Bala Fire Service, staff from Stena at Holyhead, mechanics from Cambrian Land Rover in Aberystwyth and staff from Caws Cenarth cheese-makers from Boncath in Pembrokeshire.
TOM JONES AT 70
Sunday, July 4, BBC One Wales, 10.25pm
bbc.co.uk/wales
