Born:
June 07, 1940
in
Trefforest, Pontypridd, South Wales
Best Known For:
Thumping renditions of classic songs.
Early-life:
Born Thomas John Woodward on June 7, 1940, in Treforest, Pontypridd, south Wales, the son of a housewife and a coal miner. He enjoyed singing, and performed with the Treforest Secondary Modern School choir. He left school, married his girlfriend Melinda (better known now as Linda) Trenchard and had a son - all by the age of 17. To make ends meet, Jones worked as a labourer, glove cutter, paper miller and vacuum cleaner salesman, singing at night with local bands.
Career:
In 1963, Jones joined forces with songwriter Gordon Mills, who was beginning a career in management. A year later, his single, It's Not Unusual, written by Mills, topped the chart. Other early hits include She's a Lady, Help Yourself, Delilah, What's New Pussycat? and Without Love. His record sales waned during the 1970s, but he made a successful comeback in 1987, scoring a top 10 hit with The Boy from Nowhere. These days he's as popular as ever and his 1999 best-selling album, Reload, featured duets with some of the world's biggest contemporary acts, including Robbie Williams and Stereophonics. He continues to be one of the most successful recording artists in the world. He was knighted in 2006, and has been a judge on The Voice since 2012.
Quote:
"The fire is still in me. Not to be an oldie, but a goodie. I want to be a contender."
Trivia:
While filming an alien invasion during Mars Attacks! he burnt part of his scalp. He stopped dying his hair in 2009.