Sir Tom Jones is a name synonymous with music royalty. The singer, from Pontypridd, who exploded onto the scene in the 1960s, has a string of hits to his name - ranging from "Green, Green Grass of Home" to "Sex Bomb". Yet, despite his fame, not every fan knows the story behind how Thomas John Woodward became the legendary Tom Jones.
It's a tale that has resurfaced on TikTok, revealing Sir Tom's birth name to a new audience, and leaving many astonished by the backstory. Sir Tom's global following remains as fervent as ever, and this has been evidenced by heaps of praise across social media.
One person said: "One of the greatest." Another added: "Awesome and always will be.". Someone else also wrote: "My mother used to tell me to learn to dance like him every time his show came on.". However, for those not in the know, Sir Tom's real name isn't Tom Jones - it's a stage name. While hardcore fans might already be well versed in this piece of pop trivia, the reasoning behind the change is still intriguing.
Sir Tom's full name is Thomas John Woodward, and he adopted his moniker when his career began to take off. Originally, he sang in the locally popular South Wales band, Tommy Scott and the Senators, before a fateful encounter at the Top Hat in Cwmtillery.
There, Gordon Mills, a manager based in London with roots in South Wales, spotted the future star's potential. Not long after joining forces with Sir Tom, Gordon Mills took on the role of manager and made the savvy move to dub him "Tom Jones". The new moniker was inspired by the hit 1963 film, which had just clinched an Academy Award. This shrewd branding tactic was aimed at capturing attention in the competitive music industry.
For anyone not in the know, the namesake movie is a period comedy drawn from Henry Fielding's renowned 1749 novel, "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling". Under Tony Richardson's direction and John Osborne's penmanship, the film features acting heavyweight Albert Finney as the eponymous character. Joining him in the acclaimed production were stars like Susannah York, Hugh Griffith, Edith Evans, Joan Greenwood, Diane Cilento and David Warner.
