Those who love the luxurious and exciting life of Las Vegas filled with entertainment like casinos, great hotels and music, have Tom Jones high on their list. He is one of the most acclaimed and successful singers of all time. Those who know music, know about Tom Jones and his unique voice and style. With more than 100 million records, many awards, and a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II, he is a music legend whose songs will echo many years and decades from now.

His powerful and distinctive voice, his charismatic and flamboyant stage presence, and his diverse and eclectic repertoire of songs, ranging from pop, rock, soul, country, and even gospel are something that everyone should listen to.

One of the most interesting parts of his career is his long and legendary performance run in Las Vegas. For over four decades, from 1967 to 2011, Tom Jones was a fixture and a phenomenon in the Entertainment Capital of the World. He performed in some of the most prestigious and glamorous casino venues, such as The Flamingo, Caesars Palace, and MGM Grand. He has entertained millions of fans, from celebrities and royalty to ordinary people and tourists. While he is still active around the world, he is skipping Las Vegas. That’s why we will explore the fascinating and inspiring story of Tom Jones and his Las Vegas performance run.

How did Tom Jones’ Las Vegas career start?

It all started back in 1967. At the age of 27, Tom Jones, appeared in The Flamingo casino, where he impressed the audience for the first time with his talents. What initially was only a two-week booking, it was extended by a couple of months, because the audience fell in love with him immediately. He was as busy as you can get – two shows per night, six nights per week. During these shows, he sang his biggest hits such as “It’s Not Unusual,” “Delilah,” and “What’s New Pussycat.” Not only his own songs, but he sang covers from the likes of Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, and even The Beatles. And his charisma also did the job well – he was constantly engaging with the audience, making jokes and telling stories. He also did his 1st trademark leather jacket throw to the crowd.

After the initial run was over, Tom Jones received great reviews and endured commercial success. Many eyes were drawn to him, as influential and powerful people in the entertainment industry as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Colonel Tom Parker, who was Elvis Presley’s manager, wanted to work with him. This led also to his financial success, where Tom Jones received one of the biggest weekly salaries in Las Vegas at the time, reaching $25,000.

The Legendary Tom Jones Live in Las Vegas Album

Two years after he started his Las Vegas career came one of his biggest musical successes, the iconic Tom Jones Live in Las Vegas album. The album was recorded in the famous casino The Flamingo, which added the catalyst of capturing the essence and atmosphere of Las Vegas. The album was an instant success, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart and No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart at the time. It sold over two million copies worldwide and went gold.

The album was composed of 14 tracks, including some of his early hits, such as “Delilah,” “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” and “It’s Not Unusual,” as well as some cover songs from other artists. The album was the culmination of his career so far and established him as one of the top live performers in the world. But, the effect on the music world was even bigger. Other artists wanted to work with him and even inspired the king of rock and roll Elvis Presley to record his own live album one year later, named On Stage.

Friendship and Rivalry with Elvis Presley

When in Vegas, one is bound to have some rivalry (and friendship!). Tom Jones was lucky enough to be a rival and a good friend of Elvis Presley. Their relationship was complex yet very fascinating. The first contact between them happened in 1965 when Tom Jones was performing at the Paramount Theater in New York. Elvis Presley was waiting for him backstage to finally meet. And from what Tom says it was an instant hit! Quickly they became very good friends and admired each other’s work.

Even though they were great friends, they were still rivals. They often booked concerts at the same time and sometimes attended each other’s shows when their schedules were not overlapping. But, their rivalry and friendship led them to make even better music. Tom Jones and Elvis Presley’s friendship lasted until Elvis Presley died in 1977. Tom Jones was broken about it and decided to sing some of his songs and dedicate them to his memory.

Transformation from a Sex symbol to a Sophistication

Tom Jones as a young performer at the start of his career was regarded by his audience and critics as a sex symbol. This really helped him in the early decades of his work. However, as time went by, and the taste of the audience changed, he needed to transform so he could be relevant once again. And he did just that. Tom Jones transformed himself from a sex symbol to a mature and sophisticated performer by changing everything – his look, his wardrobe, and even his hairstyle. Audiences no longer witnessed the style of the 70’s and 80’s, but they saw more elegant and classy outfits from their favorite performer. Not only his image, but his playlist changed as well. New times led to new collaborations and experiments with different sounds and styles. One noteworthy change in his musical style was the making of The Lead and How to Swing It (1994), which for the first time in his career featured rock and soul songs. Later, at the end of the century, he released Reload (1999), which featured duets with artists such as The Cardigans, Stereophonics, and even Robbie Williams.

The transformation was a success, as now he put himself on the map for new and younger audiences, as well as reminding old fans of what he is capable of doing. In 2006, he got all the recognition he could receive after getting a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. The new style and transformation did not stop him from performing in Vegas.

Last Performance in Las Vegas

Tom Jones’ last performance run in Las Vegas was on June 25, 2011, at the Hollywood Theater. He performed in front of a full venue that rewarded him with a standing ovation and cheered for him throughout the show. His repertoire included classic hits, such as “Delilah,” “Green, Green Grass of Home,” and “It’s Not Unusual,” and added some of his newer additions like “Burning Hell” and “Did Trouble Me.” At the end of the concert, he thanked his fans and the city for their support and love over the years.

Tom Jones, who had performed in Las Vegas for more than 40 years, was coming to an end in 2011. His last performance was a sad day for the city because it marked the end of Tom Jones’ Las Vegas legacy. Even though he had tours in North America, he only returned to Las Vegas for one night back in 2022, but that’s something that will probably never happen again.

It’s not unusual to end like this…

Tom Jones and his Las Vegas performance run is a story of what it means to succeed in Las Vegas. For those who are aching to experience the thrill and excitement of Las Vegas like Tom Jones without leaving their home? What if you want to gamble and play casino games online, but still feel the atmosphere and the vibe of the city that never sleeps? Well, there is a simple and easy way to do that: just listen to the music of Tom Jones and play your favorite games. On the other hand, if you love Tom Jones and want to play at online casinos, you can register at Stake.com for the best gaming experience that will complement the music of the greatest Las Vegas performer Sir Tom Jones.