aaamusic | On 02, Nov 2010

TRIBUTES FROM STARS INCLUDING PRISCILLA PRESLEY, PAUL ANKA, KELLY JONES, ELTON JOHN AND DON BLACK

Sir Tom Jones, legend, national treasure and international superstar was honoured last night with the prestigious annual Music Industry Trusts Award sponsored by Ingenious, PPL, PRS for Muisc and Spotify, In recognition of his outstanding contribution to music. Sir Tom Jones was presented with the accolade by Award-winning film director Tim Burton.

The charity dinner, now in its 19th year, is held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel in aid of Nordoff Robbins and The BRIT Performing Arts & Technology School. It was attended by over 1000 guests from the UK music and entertainment industry including Sir George Martin, Michael Ball, Helena Bonham Carter and Rob Brydon to name a few.

The BRIT School Choir kicked off proceedings with a memorable Tom Jones medley and continuing the Welsh theme for the evening Cerys Matthews gave a very special performance in honour of tonight’s Award recipient. A specially made tribute film about his life was shown as he collected his Music Industry Trusts’ Award featuring tribute messages from friends and contemporaries, including Priscilla Presley who said, “They would sing songs together and jam together, for Elvis to do that he really had to have a lot of trust in someone because he admired Tom’s voice so much.” Kelly Jones, Don Black, Paul Anka and many more also passed on their congratulations.

Closing the evening on a true high, Tom Jones took to the stage with Stereophonics front man Kelly Jones andCerys Matthews to perform some of his greatest hits.

David Munns, Chairman of the Award committee said: “Tom Jones is one of those rare beings, a timeless entertainer, a great guy, who clearly loves what he does, and whose talent appeals to successive generations.  Tom is Mr Cool, one of the world’s greatest singers and performers and we are extremely proud and honoured that he is the 2010 recipient of the Music Industry Trusts’ Award.”

Sir Tom Jones joins a select group of Music Industry Trusts’ honourees:
Sir George Martin, Jonathan Ross, Harvey Goldsmith, Michael Parkinson, Lucian Grainge and the late Ahmet Ertegun, and such esteemed artists and musicians as, Peter Gabriel, Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Kylie Minogue and John Barry.

As a first for this year, Spotify sponsored the MITS first digital auction, which included items from the legend himself, an original 1970’s 18k yellow gold with 19 diamonds ring from Tom Jones own collection and a very rare John Lennon and Yoko Ono naked statue donated by Kate Bush.

The Music Industry Trusts’ Award has raised £4 million to date for its two charities, Nordoff Robbins and the BRIT Trust (which includes the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology). The Award is unique because – in addition to saluting artists – it recognises the contribution that an individual has made to the industry, from a range of activities:  producer, film composer, broadcaster, record company executive, music retailer, concert impresario. The Award evening has become renowned for its magic moments, with unique live performances that have a special resonance for the recipient.