Introduction
Happy 86th Birthday to the one and only Sir Tom Jones — born June 7, 1940 in Treforest, Wales!
It’s not unusual to still be this magnificent at 86. Son of a Welsh coal miner. Married his childhood sweetheart Linda at 17 — and stayed married to her for 59 years until she passed in 2016. He once said he fell in love with her at age 12. Some things you just know.
His manager Gordon Mills heard him sing for the first time in a Welsh nightclub in 1964 and said — within the first few bars — “I’ve just heard the greatest voice in the world.” A year later “It’s Not Unusual” hit #1 in 13 countries. Not a bad debut.
Elvis Presley was such a massive Tom Jones fan that he covered several of his songs — and the two became genuine friends. Elvis once told him: “You’re the only man who has ever scared me.” Coming from Elvis, that’s everything.
He’s sold over 100 million records. He’s been knighted. He had women throwing underwear at him on stage for decades — and he rolled with it so gracefully it became part of the show. At 86 he is STILL recording and performing. The voice hasn’t gone anywhere.
Happy Birthday, Sir Tom. Wales gave the world a gift when they gave us you.