Tom Jones Concert

I snapped up a couple of tickets for this performance at the luxury Pine Cliffs Resort, Albufeira, way back in March when they first went on sale - not only did I get the Early Bird price for them, but as we rarely get top names in the Algarve it was nice not to travel too far to get such a huge act. And what a show it was! I was totally blown away just by being in the presence of such a celebrated and successful artist.

Full name Sir Thomas Jones Woodward OBE, more commonly known as just Tom Jones, is now aged 84 and can sing as well as he did when he was a young man when girls would brazenly throw their underwear at him. He still has the voice, still has a certain charisma about him – dare I say a little sexy still? – and is still proud and capable at what he does. What a night, crowded with enthusiasts, of all ages, all just there to enjoy the music and join in the singing. His band was first class, and the time flew. The icing on the cake were the fireworks at the end of the performance under perfect conditions – a dramatic finish to a night watching a star under the stars.

A little about Sir Tom’s Background

Sir Tom was brought up in a humble Welsh town called Treforest to parents Freda Jones, and Thomas Woodward, a coalminer, and admits he was born with the singing gift – a full-throated, robust baritone, but according to Jones himself, his younger voice was a tenor. He said: ‘What you lose on the top end, you gain on the bottom end’, and over the years has had a robust worldwide successful career using it, dabbling in all sorts of genres of music, ranging from country and western to pop, and almost everything in between.

Proud of his Welsh background, some might not know that the young Tom Jones worked in construction and in a glove factory before finding success as a singer. He tied the knot when he was just 16 to his childhood sweetheart, Melinda (Linda) Trenchard, and remained married to her until she sadly passed away in 2016 after 56 years of marriage. Tom had dreamed of fame, while Linda had few expectations outside of their hometown in South Glamorgan, and while the couple were completely devoted to each other, Tom's success as a singer led him to spend weeks and months away from Linda. After her death, he sold the family's Los Angeles mansion and its contents (apparently apart from treasured photos) and moved into an apartment in London, which apparently was his wife's dying wish.

He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1999, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 at Buckingham Palace for his services to music, and has experienced a resurgence of popularity due to his role as a coach on the UK talent show ‘The Voice’.

A little-known fact

I admit I hadn’t known that at the age of 12, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, and was forced to spend two years in quarantine in his childhood home, but he successfully survived to become a legend in his own time.

But despite more recent health issues (he has had two hip replacements), he is still singing, and touring, and still belting out his hits, still name-dropping or rubbing shoulders with other music legends throughout his act!

With thanks to the exclusive Pine Cliffs Resort for hosting such a classy first-class performer and his band - everyone at the summer gala was delighted to welcome Sir Tom to Portugal with roars of approval after each song. It was a night to remember.

Marilyn writes regularly for The Portugal News, and has lived in the Algarve for some years. A dog-lover, she has lived in Ireland, UK, Bermuda and the Isle of Man. 

Marilyn Sheridan