Tom Jones will receive the Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award at the 2009 Songwriters Hall of Fame 40th Anniversary Awards dinner, to be held June 18 at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel.
“Sir Tom represents the perfect choice as a recipient of our Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award,” Songwriters Hall of Fame chairman/CEO Hal David said in a statement. “We are looking forward to applauding his exceptional staying power and accomplishments, along with his unique artistry.”
Since the mid-’60s, Jones has sold more than 100 million records, singing nearly every form of popular music from pop, rock and show tunes to country, dance, and techno. His string of hits includes” It’s Not Unusual;” What’s New Pussycat?,” written by Burt Bacharach and SHOF Chairman/CEO Hal David; “Thunderball,” the theme song for the James Bond film of the same name; “Green Green Grass of Home,” his highest-charting U.S. single; “She’s A Lady;” “Delilah;” “Help Yourself;” and “A Boy From Nowhere.”
In 1965, Jones garnered the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. From 1976-1985 Jones landed 16 singles on the Billboard Country Music chart. And in 2000, the single “Sex Bomb” from his 5 million-plus selling album Reload was certified by the IFPI as the most-played record on radio in Europe and No. 3 in sales.
Jones was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1999 and was made a Knight Bachelor for his service to music by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in London in March 2006.
