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On this day, 16 March 1968, it was reported in Britain’s premier music newspaper the Melody Maker, that Welsh singer Tom Jones’s career was set for the movies.
Under the headline Films Now Are The Only Thing Left For Tom Jones was the following report…..
Tom Jones, Britain’s roving ambassador of rhythm on song soars back over the Polar route to Los Angeles this week after spending a week at home.
He’s going back to the States to star in Las Vegas and appear in several major TV shows and discuss a role in a major Hollywood film.
Tom’s an international star now, but over a steak and chips meal at ATV Studios on Sunday, Tom said: “I could easily back in Wales singing in the pubs, if it hadn’t been for Gordon.” Gordon is Gordon Mills, his manager and friend. The man who “discovered” Tom in Pontypridd and devoted his energies into making him a star.
He’s succeeded in just three years. Tom had the talent but Gordon promoted it. “I couldn’t push myself” said Tom. “I was always waiting for someone to find me. If Gordon hadn’t I’d still be back there.”
Gordon devotes a tremendous amount of time. He sees him everyday when Tom’s in Britain, often accompanies him abroad and even does his worrying for him, leaving Tom free to devote everything to his performance.
“I’m not a worrier anyway” said Tom, “even back in Wales I never use to worry. If I missed the bus to work I just wouldn’t go. My wife would say, ‘we’ll be short this week.’ If we were we were, I couldn’t worry about it. I was alway late - I was always late for school, late for work, now I’m late for TV shows, that’s just me, that’s how I am.”
Tom’s carefree attitude is reaping rewards. He’s made it from rocker to international star in three years. And now his eyes are sighted immovably on films.
“I’ve done everything in Britain - hit records, cabaret, tours. Films are the only thing left for me.” Said Tom slicing into his canteen steak. We were talking during a break in rehearsals for the Eamonn Andrews Show.
Tom has, in fact, been offered countless film parts, but has rejected them for one reason or another. Ironically, one part that did attract him, he may not be able to do due to his April commitment at the London Palladium.
It’s a co-starring role in a new film starring Sean Connery, Richard Harris and Samantha Eggar titled the Molly Maguires, the story of friction between the Irish, Welsh and the the English in mining towns of Pennsylvania in the last century. The part offered to Tom was one of a rebellious… Irishman !.
“It’s a good meaty part, one I would have liked to do, but it looks doubtful because filming starts whilst I’m at the Palladium. If they could hold he film I would do it like shot .”
“There’s no music in it as far as I know, unless I do a song over the credits,” said Tom. He flies back to Los Angeles today (Thursday) and will have talks about the film. He’ll know then whether the timing can be rearranged - or whether he’ll have to drop out of the part.
Then - he opens at the Flamingo, in Las Vegas. He will do the same act that he did at New York’s Copacabana. “It’s 45 minutes of beat numbers and ballads, including his hit “Delilah” which as already hit the American charts in the eighties and seems poised for a top ten placing.
It’s a big event for Tom, who also has the added thrill of meeting Frank Sinatra while he’s in the States. And it’s also rumoured that Gordon and Tom may meet up with Elvis Presley and his manager Colonel Tom Parker.
The meeting with Sinatra was lined up whilst Tom was at the Copacabana. He spoke to Sinatra by phone and they meet up while Tom is in California. Is it business or just a social call ? “Well I think he’s interested in me as a singer. But he also has some business propositions to put to me, but I can’t say anything about that at the moment.”
