Tom Jones welcomed a legendary guest during a festive edition of his television programme, This Is… Tom Jones, back in December 1970.
During the height of their fame, major music stars were often just as comfortable entertaining audiences on television as they were performing on stage. Variety programmes gave them the opportunity to host fellow celebrities, introduce musical acts and deliver performances of their own.
In the US, Johnny Cash fronted The Johnny Cash Show, while British audiences had Jones and his own series, This Is… Tom Jones. Over the years, the programme welcomed an extraordinary collection of guests, including Paul Anka, Glen Campbell, The Who, Jerry Lee Lewis, Aretha Franklin, Lulu, Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield and Joni Mitchell.
One of the show’s memorable festive moments came when jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald appeared as a guest in December 1970. Wearing a striking turquoise sequined dress, Fitzgerald sat alongside Jones as he performed the beloved Christmas song ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’.
Before beginning the performance, Jones introduced the song with the words: “You know, it takes a heap of singing to make a house a home,”
“Going home is a nice thing to do at anytime, but the nicest time of all is to go home for Christmas.
“That’s why no matter where i’m working, I try to make sure it doesn’t interfere with my spending the holidays at home, with family.”
Jones delivered a beautiful rendition of the Christmas classic, made even more memorable by the presence of Ella Fitzgerald. The legendary singer enjoyed a remarkable view of the performance, seated right beside him and getting a front-row experience unlike any other.
Ella Fitzgerald wasn’t the only notable guest featured in the Christmas Day edition of This Is… Tom Jones. The programme also welcomed ballet stars Rudolf Nureyev and Merle Park, alongside guitarist Big Jim Sullivan and the Welsh Treorchy Male Choir.
The Golden Globe-nominated series ran for 65 episodes between 1969 and 1972, bringing together an impressive lineup of musical and entertainment talent.
Finding a copy of the show on DVD can be difficult due to rights issues, so it’s worth picking one up whenever an opportunity arises. Performances like this one are certainly worth preserving and revisiting.
Although the programme initially operated from England, its production soon alternated between London and Hollywood, giving Sir Tom the opportunity to welcome an array of major American stars.
Beyond its impressive musical lineup, This Is… Tom Jones also brought together leading comedy performers from both sides of the Atlantic. The very first episode featured appearances by Peter Sellers and Richard Pryor.
The programme also had its own regular comedy segments, featuring sketches performed by the improvisational group Ace Trucking Company. Its members included Patti Deutsch, Bill Saluga, Fred Willard, George Memmoli and Michael Mislove.
Source: Various
