Tom Jones

There are very few musical talents that can appeal to three generations - in fact Tom Jones may be it. Perhaps some of the secret of his success is down to the fact that he's not afraid to try something new. Musically he's experimented with pop, rock, country, big band, dance and jazz - and worked with the big names in all genres.

Born on June 7 1940 - making his 62, not yet qualified for his bus pass, but only three years shy - as Thomas Jones Woodward in Pontypridd, South Wales. The Welsh are well known for their vocal traditions, but the boy Jones has a big voice at a very early age. His entry in Who's Who states that he made his singing debut at the age of three. There is a story about his being told off for drowning out the other voices at Treforrest school choir, during a rendition of Men Of Harlech.

Indicative of many teenagers of the time - the mid-50s - Tom was naturally attracted to the new sound of rock n roll and became a bit of a teddy boy and a rebel. He was also quite naturally attracted to the opposite sex and started going out with Linda (having been friends with her since they were both 11). Tom left school at 16 and the couple the following year and had their son Mark soon after.

Tom was then working nights at a paper mill, which was becoming an obsticle to his musical aspirations. He gave the job up and found himself as frontman for local group Tommy Scott and the Senators. It was 1963 and Jones the Voice had taken his first step into the limelight...

Gordon Mills, who soon became Tom's manager discovered the Voice. "The first few bars were all I needed to hear, they convinced me that here was a voice that could make him the greatest singer in the world."

Touted around the London-based record company A&R departments, Tom was a little too much for some. The sound was too powerful and the moves too sexual. Finally Decca Records picked up on Tom in 1964. The first single didn't doo much, but the follow up It's Not Unusual, written by Mills, became a huge international hit. It was broken by airplay from pirate station Radio Caroline, the Beeb deciding it was a little too hot to handle. The following year Tom was the opening act for the Rolling Stones - he had arrived and was there to stay.

Jones' early inspiration came from black American blues and R&B greats including Little Richard and Jackie Wilson. Inevitably similarities were drawn between Tom and Elvis and the two formed a great friendship based on mutual respect and admiration.

With hits like Delilah, Help Yourself and Love Me tonight, Tom became the biggest selling UK artist on both sides of the Atlantic. The gold records kept coming into the early '70s, he became a regular act in Vegas and has his own TV series, This Is Tom Jones, which ran from 1969-71. By the end of 1970 he had sold over 30 million records.

The TV show, commissioned by ABC, was filmed in London and Los Angeles and among the featured guests were: Aretha Franklin, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Bob Hope, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Who, Janis Joplin, Paul Anka, Sonny & Cher, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder.

In the late '80s Tom was again thrust into the limelight, invited to record a musical soundtrack called Matador. This resulted in a number two single A Boy From Nowhere. The British club scene prompted a re-release of It's Not Unusual. The following year, he worked in collaboration with the Art of Noise on a cover of Prince's Kiss. This was to be the first of many musical partnerships between Tom and a new musical generation. Tom's work diary began to fill up again. Elvis may have left the musical arena, but Tom was in fine voice and ready for action.

The 2000s saw accolades pour down upon Tom. He picked up the 2000 Best Male Artist Brit Award, the Silver Clef Award, sang with Pavarotti, appeared at the White House in front of President Clinton and at the jubillee celebrations at Buckingham Palace in front of the Queen. This year has seen him release possibly his most unpredictable collaboration in the album Mr Jones, with Wyclef Jean. Only a few weeks ago he picked up one of the UK music industry's highest awards, the Brit award for Outstanding Contribution to Music; inevitably a Greatest Hits album followed.

Despite a life in the media spotlight, Tom has remained very family-orientated. Still with childhood-sweetheart Linda, they divide their time between homes in Bel Air and South Wales. He was devoted to his mother, who sadly died earlier this year. She and Tom's sister had also moved out to California. Since the 1986 death of Gordon Mills, Tom has been managed by his son.

Tom Jones plays the Bournemouth International Centre on Tuesday, April, 29.