News

Sir Tom Jones Honoured With Industry Trusts' Award

• 1st Jun 2010

Sir Tom Jones, legend, national treasure, international superstar is to be honoured with the prestigious Music Industry Trusts’ Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to music. Sir Tom, knighted by the Queen in 2006 and celebrating his 70th Birthday this year, has notched up a stellar career over five decades and continues to scale the very highest peaks of the music business, both in the UK and around the world. The Award will be presented to Tom Jones on 1 November at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel. Over 1000 guests attend this celebrated charity award event in aid of Nordoff Robbins and the BRIT Trust.

David Munns, Chairman of the Award committee said: “Tom Jones is one of those rare beings, a timeless entertainer, a great guy, who clearly loves what he does, and whose talent appeals to successive generations. Tom is Mr Cool, one of the world’s greatest singers and performers and we are extremely proud and honoured that he is the 2010 recipient of the Music Industry Trusts’ Award.”

Tom Jones was born in the Welsh mining village of Pontypridd and began singing at a very early age; his professional career began in 1963 with a Welsh beat group called Tommy Scott and the Senators. The following year Tom recorded several solo tracks with producer Joe Meek, then eventually went on to land a record contract with Decca. His second single, ‘It’s Not Unusual’, went stratospheric and became a massive international hit, reaching Number 1 in the UK and top 10 in the US. This was followed in 1965, with the recording of two movie themes, ‘What’s New Pussycat?’ and the James Bond film ‘Thunderball’. Tom won that year’s Grammy Award for Best New Artist: he was clearly on his way and America had taken him to their hearts.

Like many great artists, Tom Jones relishes new musical challenges, and in 1988 recorded Prince’s ‘Kiss’ with the Art of Noise which became an international hit, receiving heavy rotation on MTV and earning Tom a VMA for Breakthrouh Artist. The hugely successful ‘Reload’, an album of unexpected collaborations, came at the age of 59, selling 5 million copies worldwide. With his 70th birthday approaching and with over 100 million record sales, Tom remains indefatigable, with both recording and touring his live show around the globe. His next highly anticipated project is due from Island Records/Universal in July, where he once again excels himself with stirring performances that surprise and inspire. As the man said himself: “The fire is still in me. I am still, and I want to be, a contender.”

The Music Industry Trusts’ Award, now in its 19th year, has earned its respected place in the entertainment industry due to the great names that have held this honour: Sir George Martin, Ahmet Ertegun, Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin, John Barry, Michael Parkinson, Lord Andrew Lloyd Weber and Kylie Minogue. The Award was founded to recognise outstanding achievement in the UK music industry as well as benefiting Nordoff Robbins and the BRIT Trust.

Tom Jones commented:
“2010 is shaping up to be a very memorable year for me, I’m delighted to be honoured with the Music Industry Trusts’ Award and to join the roll-call of some great past honourees, such as George and Ahmet. I’ve visited the Brit Performing Arts & Technology School, supported by the BRIT TRUST, one of the Award’s charities, and was blown away by the incredible talent there and I’m looking forward to finding out more about Nordoff Robbins’ great work.”

The Music Industry Trusts’ Award has raised £3.7 million to date for its two charities, Nordoff Robbins and the BRIT Trust (which includes the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology). The Award is unique because it recognises the contribution that an individual has made to the industry across a range of activities: record producer, film music composer, broadcaster, legendary artist, record executive, songwriter and concert impresario. The Award evening has become renowned for its magic moments, with unique live performances that have a special resonance for the recipient.