The singer's success in Britain, the United States, and across the world all started in Tom's home town of Pontypridd, a small mining community in Wales. As Tom grew older, he began to sing in local pubs after his regular work day. His coworkers would line up outside to enjoy his energetic musical talent, breaking away from their work-a-day routines.
His later popularity in the United States gave him no respite. He was in constant demand at the zenith of his career for television and other appearances. He fills several engagements a year at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas presently, and pursues a very busy concert schedule, still consistently breaking his own old attendance records.
When his old TV show, This is Tom Jones, was being broadcast on local television a few years back, Tom's magnetic voice and dynamic presence won him great popularity on the island. Thus, his scheduled October 29 to 30 concerts in Taipei were anticipated by a flood of local admirers as well as Taipei's large foreign community.
His Taipei debut occurred, as usual, in a mixture of claps, screams, and shouts, as he arrived on a stage set in the center of a dome, where he was surrounded by an audience of over seven thousand. Wearing an open-front white, long-sleeved shirt and maroon slacks, he was joined by a l4-member orchestra and an accompanying trio of young and pretty black women.
After he finished his fifth song, he stopped for a ritual glass of water. And as was to be expected, ladies in the audience started to provide him with handkerchiefs and bunches of flowers. He responded in intimate fashion to one lady: "Flowers are nice. There we are, my sweet. I couldn't take them from you before, because I was singing. It is like I can't do two things at once. Did you ever try to? I can't even chew gum and walk at the same time." (Laughter from the audience.) Tom gave the lady a kiss on the cheek, then continued: "One thing I have noticed about Oriental women, they are very reserved. The first I noticed this was in Japan-when we were playing in Tokyo. A Japanese girl came up on stage looking very aggressive. But when I wanted to kiss her on the lips, she said 'No, no, only here.''' (Tom showed his cheekbone) "It is culture, different culture, and I go along with that." The audience laughed again.
Among the ladies presenting the flowers to Tom, two were quite famous Chinese actresses, and one was an American student studying Chinese here. The student did give Tom a long and breathtaking kiss. The audience screamed and shouted in approval of her uninhibited exhibition.
"Ladies, and gentlemen, we change most of the songs every year, and I hope you like this year's choices," Tom declared, now recovered. Then a melody smoothly filled the dome and picked up the lyrics: "To live for today and to love for tomorrow is the wisdom of a fool. Because tomorrow is a promise to no one...."
Tom is a firm believer in giving his all to the audience. And when he was taking another well-earned pause, a middle-aged man handed him some papers. Tom seemed totally stunned: "They are not from the bathroom, I hope." This time the laughter burst out louder.
Tom keeps in shape by jogging, boxing, and lifting weights. He also enjoys soccer and the fierce competition of games of darts with his son, Mark, who travels with his dad as lighting director.
After introducing the members of his orchestra later in the concert, Tom announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, the following song is dedicated to your late President Chiang Kai-shek."
The song was My Way, and part of the lyrics go like this: "And now the end is near, and so I face the final curtain. My friends I said it clear, I stated my case, of which I am certain.... " The audience was touched by his understanding.
The concert lasted about two hours. And the audience had paid a high charge to finally see the star in person. But most enjoyed his wit and chatter more than his singing performance. Tom's voice was still as magnetic, and his stage presence as energetic. But for the younger audience, the beat and style were simply out of date. The impression was the same as watching an old movie. The audience still paid its full applause respects to Tom, because they did not get less than all he could give.