Las Vegas mainstay Tom Jones making Strip return

John Katsilometes | (TNS) Las Vegas Review-Journal

LAS VEGAS — A legendary showman who dates to the Strip’s golden era and been the subject of millions of panties-throwing fans, is coming back to Las Vegas.

Tom Jones is headlining two shows at Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on Sept. 28-29. Jones’ shows were confirmed Wednesday by AEG Presents, which books the venue. An announcement and ticket information are forthcoming next week.

These are Jones’ first shows in Las Vegas since he debuted at Encore Theater in October 2022. He turned 84 last week.

Jones has headlined Las Vegas since premiering at the Flamingo in 1967. He’s starred every year at the International Hotel/Las Vegas Hilton (where he became friends with Elvis Presley), and later MGM Grand’s Hollywood Theatre before it was renamed for David Copperfield. But he had not performed in Vegas for a dozen years prior to his 2022 appearance at Encore Theater.

Jones has sold more than 100 million records, topped by “It’s Not Unusual,” “Kiss,” “Delilah” and “What’s New Pussycat.” His latest album, “Surrounded by Time,” was issued in 2021.

The Welsh sensation was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006, received BRIT Awards for best male and outstanding contribution to music, a Silver Clef Award for lifetime achievement, the Hitmaker Award from the U.S. Songwriters Hall of Fame, GQ Man of the Year and the prestigious U.K. Music Industry Trust Award.

Jones has had both hips replaced (his left in in 2017 and his right in 2022), moving with a cane and sitting during his 2022 shows in Vegas. But he has been back on his feet in more recent shows and is still in fine voice.

A review from the Guardian from Jones’ show at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena allowed the superstar “was visibly not as nimble” as in years past “but that rich, full-bodied baritone is as stunning an instrument as ever.”