There were plenty of names dropped by Tom Jones at a press event in Auckland today.
Appearing in front of New Zealand's media, the iconic Welsh crooner recounted the first time he met Elvis Presley.
The legendary singers first came face-to-face in 1965 at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.
"I didn't know he knew I existed," Jones, 69, said.
Elvis asked him, "How the hell do you sing like that?"
Jones replied: "Well, you're partly to blame!"
Journalists attending the press conference at Villa Maria Estate Winery were warned not to ask the singer, known as 'The Voice', about his fans' penchant for throwing knickers on stage.
Jones did talk about growing up in Wales as a shy boy who stood out at family gatherings because he would sing standing on a table.
The singer said his initial dream was to make money from singing.
"Now, that dream is to continue for as long as possible," he said with a trademark twinkle in his eye.
His latest album 24 Hours came about after a conversation with U2 frontman Bono, who offered to write a song for Jones.
The resulting track Sugar Daddy, is Jones said, "very tongue-in-cheek".
Jones said he never got sick of singing hits like It's Not Unusual and Delilah.
"I try to introduce new things into them and there are people hearing them for the first time.
"The people keep those songs alive, and people deserve to hear those songs."
He also revealed he was a big fan of Welsh songstress Duffy, saying he would love to record a duet with her.
he is such a good singer and I got the feeling that in every interview he gives he is asked about Elvis. wonder if he does not get tired of that..
I'm a big fan of Tom Jones and he's very respectful of the King in any interviews I'veheard him give. But the poor guy gets asked the same damn questions in every interview and has done since the sixties - tell me about the knicker throwing, tell me about how well you knew Elvis, do you get sick of the same old songs, what keeps you going. Journalists can be so lazy. I bet we could all come up with the top five questions they'd still be asking Elvis today if he were still with us.....yawnnn.
Great singer. And I like the natural Stevotz look. Looks much better than when he was dying the hair black. Pushing 70 he still got it. Kudos, Tom.
This is a big man talking!
Great and honest. Yes, Monster, journalists are not the brightest in the world. I have observed that for many decades. Nothing has changed. They have their own show. But this is Tom Jones, who is a respectful person. He knows what he stands for. So he understands that one should not get tired of the good things, rather tired of the bad things!
Poor Tommy loooks like a zombie. Too much plastic surgery?
A zombie??? No way: he looks great!
Zoltan84 asks," too much plastic surgery?" Its quite obvious, Tom Jones hasn't had any plastic surgery. Its a natural look. However it does seem he has been in a tanning booth, or out in the sun. I'm not fond of the natural white hair, but thats the look, he is going with. Bottom line, the man is a great performer with an amazing voice. Elvis inspired Tom, and in return Tom Jones inspired Elvis. They had mutual respect for each other.
Agreed ! Well said George ! Always El.
They should have been the best of friends and hung out together instead of all the Mafia around him. Perhaps Elvis could have followed the path of life TJ did and still be with us today. Tom looks as healthy as ever and sounds great.
Sorry GEORGE (GK) but tom has had a load of plastic surgery done over the years. Its no secret and he has often talked about it in interviews. In fact the reason for the natural look now is because he was warned not to have any more done. Never a fav of mine but I respect him for all he has achieved.
Thanks Loesje and benny scott. And to Dr.loftmanuk, I still stand, by my statement that Tom Jones hasn't had a facelift and such. The only surgery he had was many, many years ago, on his nose.
Tom Jones had his nose fixed in the sixties because it was busted up after he was in so many fights, headbutting being a big thing where he was from - he once headbutted a guy through a window when he was a young man. He's since had his eyes done and his teeth (if that counts) plus more recently he had his chin lifted which left a slight scar and as he has himself explained, is the reason he now wears that hideous goatee beard. I think he looked quite plastic until he left the hair dye alone and now he looks pretty good. One of the all time great singers and like Elvis his voice has changed so much from the early days. Nowadays it's more of a shout when he sings - still very impressive though - but up until the very early seventies Tom Jones had a beautiful smokey voice which purred, screamed and bellowed as required and I think apart from Elvis nobody could touch him. I think they were always going to be drawn together as friends because they were similar in so many ways. For the record I prefer Elvis of course although alas I've only seen Tom Jones in concert, not Elvis. Sigh.... :(
