Download or read book Over the Top and Back written by Sir Tom Jones and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2015-11-24 with total page 433 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The long-awaited autobiography of legendary singer Tom Jones, following six decades of unparalleled experiences in the spotlight to coincide with his 75th birthday. Across six decades, Sir Tom Jones has maintained a vital career in a risky, unstable business notorious for the short lives of its artists. With a drive that comes from nothing but the love for what he does, he breaks through and then wrestles with the vagaries of the music industry, the nature of success and its inevitable consequences. Having recorded an expansive body of work and performed with fellow artists from across the spectrum and across every popular music genre, from rock, pop and dance to country, blues and soul, the one constant throughout has been his unique musical gifts and unmistakable voice. But how did a boy from a Welsh coal-mining family attain success across the globe? And how has he survived the twists and turns of fame and fortune to not only stay exciting, but actually become more credible and interesting with age? In this, his first ever autobiography, Tom revisits his past and tells the tale of his journey from wartime Pontypridd to LA and beyond. He reveals the stories behind the ups and downs of his fascinating and remarkable life, from the early heydays to the subsequent fallow years to his later period of artistic renaissance. It's the story nobody else knows or understands, told by the man who lived it, and written the only way he knows how: simply and from the heart. Raw, honest, funny and powerful, this is a memoir like no other from one of the world's greatest ever singing talents. This is Tom Jones and Over the Top and Back is his story.

Download or read book Memoirs of Another Tom Jones written by Thomas L. Jones and published by Heavenly Light Press. This book was released on 2021-08-17 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Through the years, many Tom Joneses have been known for many things. This Tom Jones, "The Preacher/Habitat Guy," passes how he lived the values of Jesus, all in the context of seeking forgiveness for failing to do so. These memoirs recount his life growing up with his family; being active in his local church and community; his exemplary work and school experiences in spite of World War II, economic challenges, and rheumatic fever in the days before antibiotics; and his exhilarating higher-education experiences in college and seminary. All in preparation for life as "The Preacher/Habitat Guy." Tom's diverse ministries include pastorates in local churches and communities; national leadership roles toward overcoming poverty (including Martin Luther King and his SCLC); significant participation at every level in Presbyterian denominational (PCUS, UPCUSA, USA) as well as national and international ecumenical organizational development; theological education, including national conferences leadership experiences as well as extensive senior leadership of Habitat for Humanity International, especially in his founding and managing the HFHI Washington Office including unique insights from its work with Congress, the White House, federal agencies, and Washington-based national professional organizations, perhaps available nowhere else. This wise, practical, inspiring book, written in Tom's heartwarming style, is a personal story of life with family, friends, colleagues, and even adversaries. Let it inspire your own personal growth and desire to use your life more than ever "to give all I've got to live the values of Jesus for as long as I've got."

Download or read book Sky Walking written by Tom Jones and published by Smithsonian Institution. This book was released on 2016-12-20 with total page 424 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A gripping first-hand account of life in space and the making of an astronaut. What is it like to fly the space shuttle and work on and in the International Space Station? Veteran NASA astronaut Tom Jones is uniquely qualified to give the details: he flew four shuttle missions and led three space walks to deliver the US Lab to the Station. . From B-52 pilot during the Cold War, to a PhD in planetary science, to the unbelievable rigors of astronaut training, his career inevitably pointed him toward the space shuttle. Until the Challenger exploded. Jones's story is the first to candidly explain the professional and personal hardships faced by the astronauts in the aftermath of that 1986 tragedy. He certainly has 'The Right Stuff' but also found himself wondering if the risks he undertook were worth the toll on his family. Liftoffs were especially nerve-wracking (his mother, who refuses to even get on a plane, cannot watch) but his 53 days in space were unforgettable adventures. Jones uses his background as a scientist to explain the practical applications of many of the shuttle's scientific missions, and describes what it's like to work with the international crews building and living aboard the space station. Tom Jones returned from his space station voyage to assess the impact of the 2003 Columbia tragedy, and prescribes a successful course for the U.S. in space. Stunning photographs, many taken in space, illustrate his amazing journey.

Download or read book The History of Tom Jones a Foundling written by Henry Fielding and published by . This book was released on 1982 with total page 405 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book From Willard Straight to Wall Street written by Thomas W. Jones and published by Cornell University Press. This book was released on 2019-04-15 with total page 278 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In stark and compelling prose, Thomas W. Jones tells his story as a campus revolutionary who led an armed revolt at Cornell University in 1969 and then altered his course over the next fifty years to become a powerful leader in the financial industry including high-level positions at John Hancock, TIAA-CREF and Citigroup as Wall Street plunged into its darkest hour. From Willard Straight to Wall Street provides a front row seat to the author's triumphs and struggles as he was twice investigated by the SEC—and emerged unscathed. His searing perspective as an African American navigating a world dominated by whites reveals a father, a husband, a trusted colleague, a Cornellian, and a business leader who confronts life with an unwavering resolve that defies cliché and offers a unique perspective on the issues of race in America today. The book begins on the steps of Willard Straight Hall where Jones and his classmates staged an occupation for two days that demanded a black studies curriculum at Cornell. The Straight Takeover resulted in the resignation of Cornell President James Perkins with whom Jones reconciled years later. Jones witnessed the destruction of the World Trade Center on 9/11 from his office at ground zero and then observed first-hand the wave of scandals that swept the banking industry over the next decade. From Willard Straight to Wall Street reveals one of the most interesting American stories of the last fifty years.

Download or read book Rebel in high Heels written by Charlotte Laws and published by Stroud House Publishing. This book was released on 2015-04-24 with total page 284 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rebel in High Heels is a memoir about Dr. Charlotte Laws—“the Erin Brockovich of revenge porn”—who was voted one of the “30 fiercest women in the world.” She fought a dangerous war against “the most hated man on the Internet” to protect her daughter and other victims. She was bombarded with death threats and computer viruses and targeted by a stalker who appeared at her home. But who is this woman that MSNBC calls a hero? In addition to detailing her gripping revenge porn fight, this book chronicles the first 22 years of Laws’ life. Her adoptive mother committed suicide, her little brother was killed, and her father’s only comment was he wished it had been her. Laws’ first boyfriend was pop idol Tom Jones. She has hobnobbed with the rich and famous. Though not born with VIP access, she taught herself how to gate-crash any event, anywhere, anytime. Rebel in High Heels details Laws’ intriguing—sometimes scandalous—encounters with Bill Cosby and other stars. At age 20, Laws earned 300k per year as a Las Vegas chip-chatter. She also worked as a bandit cab driver, a backup singer for an Elvis imitator and bodyguard for a prostitute. Laws—a former Southern California politician and weekly NBC commentator—has appeared on “The Late Show,” Fox News, “Oprah,” “Nightline,” CNN, “Dr. Drew” and “Larry King Live.” She has a Ph.D. in Social Ethics, as well as two Master’s degrees and two BAs. Her articles have been published in The Huffington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, Jezebel, Salon and the L.A. Daily News. Rebel in High Heels is mostly about perseverance and looking beyond oneself. It is about fighting for ones dreams, while striving to better the world. Laws is the little Atlanta girl who could. And did. _____ “Dr. Charlotte Laws became the ‘Erin Brockovich of revenge porn.’” —CBS News “Never underestimate a former Buckhead debutante.” —The Atlanta Journal-Constitution “This book is two for the price of one. Rebel in High Heels provides a gripping account of Charlotte Laws’ dangerous battle against revenge porn. But it also details Laws’ roller-coaster early years: dating a superstar, dealing with suicide, hobnobbing with celebrities, fighting racism and being thrust into the glitzy world of ‘sex for sale.’ By following Laws’ bold, life-crashing adventures, the reader learns how to become a rebel and a relentless advocate for victims. This memoir is about persistence, leading an active life and helping others. Laws invents her own recipe for success. She reveals her secrets in this mesmerizing tell-all book, tidbit by tasty tidbit.” —Every Way Woman Show “I didn’t realize how brave Charlotte Laws is until I see her in action.” —The Guardian "Charlotte Laws singlehandedly dismantled the empire of pure evil that earned Hunter Moore the title of ‘Most Hated Man on the Internet.’” —MSNBC “Charlotte Laws… a very appropriate last name. Trying to get laws passed in a number of states.” —Fox News "If you care about women, you need this book. Charlotte Laws is the Erin Brockovich of ‘revenge porn,’ and she will change your life just like she changed mine. Buy this for your daughters, your sisters, your mother and yourself.” —Mandy Stadtmiller, deputy editor, xojane “Charlotte Laws [is] a prominent anti-revenge porn activist.” —Washington Post “I am glad that Charlotte is sharing her story in writing this book. It is important that we educate people about revenge porn and the devastating effects on victims.” —Senator Anthony Cannella, California “In spite of the risks, Laws took up the sword.” —YES! Magazine “When Charlotte gets something in mind, nothing can stop her…She has embarked upon lots of activities in her life but with one purpose: to fight for her beliefs.” —Stylist Magazine “My goodness, she does a lot!” —LA Talk Radio

Download or read book Tom Jones Close Up written by Lucy Ellis and published by Omnibus Press. This book was released on 2009-12-17 with total page 547 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tom Jones: Close Up surpasses all other attempts to chronicle the life of a unique star who has been notoriously unforthcoming about himself. It also offers a fascinating insight into half a century of pop, spanning the Fifties pub scene of South Wales, the glitzy resort hotels of Eighties Vegas and a triumphant period of personal reinvention for a whole new generation of Jones fans at the start of the 21st century.This highly readable biography finally separates truth from myth to reveal the flesh-and-blood man behind the legend. With over 70 interviews including friends, family and colleagues, Tom Jones: Close Up offers a minutely-researched chronology of Jones' 40-year career as well as details of his odd life of deep family ties and unbridled sexual promiscuity. From Las Vegas and L.A. to London and South Wales, the authors the pieces together the roller-coaster life of Tom Jones spanning his carer childhood and the days of legendary stardom, through the career slump in the eighties to the spectacular comeback of the Reload album. Includes 24 pages of photographs from every era of Jones' life.

Download or read book I ll Never Write My Memoirs written by Grace Jones and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2016-06-14 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Iconic music and film legend Grace Jones gives an in-depth account of her stellar career, professional and personal life, and the signature look that catapulted her into the stardom stratosphere. Grace Jones, a veritable “triple-threat” as acclaimed actress, singer, and model, has dominated the entertainment industry since her emergence as a model in New York City in 1968. Quickly discovered for her obvious talent and cutting-edge style, Grace signed her first record deal in 1977 and became one of the more unforgettable characters to emerge from the Studio 54 disco scene, releasing the all-time favorite hits, “Pull Up to the Bumper,” “Slave to the Rhythm,” and “I’m Not Perfect (But I’m Perfect for You).” And with her sexually charged, outrageous live shows in the New York City nightclub circuit, Grace soon earned the title of “Queen of the Gay Discos.” But with the dawn of the ’80s came a massive anti-disco movement across the US, leading Grace to focus on experimental-based work and put her two-and-a-half-octave voice to good use. It was also around this time that she changed her look to suit the times with a detached, androgynous image. In this first-ever memoir, Grace gives an exclusive look into the transformation to her signature style and discusses how she expanded her musical triumph to success in the acting world, beginning in the 1984 fantasy-action film Conan the Destroyer alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, then the James Bond movie A View to a Kill, and later in Eddie Murphy’s Boomerang. Featuring sixteen pages of stunning full-color photographs, Miss Grace Jones takes us on a journey from Grace’s religious upbringing in Jamaica to her heyday in Paris and New York in the ’70s and ’80s, all the way to present-day London, in what promises to be a no holds barred tell-all for the ages.

Download or read book Last Chance Texaco written by Rickie Lee Jones and published by Grove Press. This book was released on 2021-04-06 with total page 401 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A candid and colorful memoir by the singer, songwriter, and “Duchess of Coolsville” (Time). This troubadour life is only for the fiercest hearts, only for those vessels that can be broken to smithereens and still keep beating out the rhythm for a new song . . . Last Chance Texaco is the first-ever no-holds-barred account of the life of two-time Grammy Award-winner and Rickie Lee Jones in her own words (Hilton Als). It is a tale of desperate chances and impossible triumphs, an adventure story of a girl who beat the odds and grew up to become one of the most legendary artists of her time, turning adversity and hopelessness into timeless music. With candor and lyricism, she takes us on a singular journey through her nomadic childhood, her years as a teenage runaway, her legendary love affair with Tom Waits, and ultimately her longevity as the hardest working woman in rock and roll. Rickie Lee’s stories are rich with the infamous characters of her early songs—“Chuck E’s in Love,” “Weasel and the White Boys Cool,” “Danny’s All-Star Joint,” and “Easy Money”—but long before her notoriety in show business, there was a vaudevillian cast of hitchhikers, bank robbers, jail breaks, drug mules, and a pimp with a heart of gold, and tales of her fabled ancestors. This intimate memoir by one of the most trailblazing and tenacious women in music is filled with never-before-told stories of the girl in the raspberry beret, whose songs defied categorization and inspired American pop culture for decades. “A striking, distinctive self-portrait.” —The New York Times “Terrific . . . Jones is as fearless in prose as she is on stage.” —Minneapolis Star-Tribune “Men leave, fame fizzles, family breaks your heart . . . but Jones knows a good story and how to tell it.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “[The] premiere song-stylist and songwriter of her generation.” —Hilton Als, Pulitzer Prize–winner and author of White Girls

Download or read book Shirley Jones written by Shirley Jones and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2014-02-25 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The actress and singer explores her life and career, examining "the real flesh-and-blood Shirley Jones, not just the movie star or Mrs. Partridge"--Dust jacket flap.

Download or read book I Lived to Tell It All written by George Jones and published by Dell. This book was released on 2014-10-01 with total page 482 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Boozing. Womanizing. Brawling. Singing. For the last forty years George Jones has reigned as the country's king--the singer many have called the Frank Sinatra of country. And for most of that time, his career has been marked by hard-living, hard-loving, and hard luck. From his early east Texas recordings through his marriage with Tammy Wynette to his latest acclaim as a solid citizen and "high-tech red-neck," Americans have been fascinated with Jones, never even knowing whether he's going to show up for his next concert. Now, in I Lived To Tell It All, George Jones supplies a no-holds-barred account of his excesses and ecstasies. How alcohol ruled his life and performances. How violence marred many friendships and relationships. How money was something to be made but never held on to. And, finally, how the love of a good woman can ultimately change a man, redeem him, and save his life.

Download or read book Belonging The Autobiography written by Alun Wyn Jones and published by Pan Macmillan. This book was released on 2021-09-16 with total page 388 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'People think they know him but unless you read this book you will never know the REAL Alun Wyn Jones' – Warren Gatland ‘One of the greatest, and seemingly indestructible, players in history' – A Daily Mail Book of the Year Belonging is the story about how the boy from Mumbles became the most capped rugby union player of all time. It is the story of what it takes to become a man who is seen by many as one of the greatest ever Welsh players. What it takes to go from sitting cross-legged on the hall floor at school watching the 1997 Lions tour of South Africa, to being named the 2021 Lions captain. But is it also about perthyn – belonging: playing for Wales, working his way through the age grades and club rugby and his regional side. How to earn the right to be there, and what it feels like to make the sacrifices along the way. Feeling the connection to players who have come before, and feeling the ties to the millions in front rooms and pubs across the country, coast to coast. Knowing that deep down you want to belong, as everyone does. From playing on the rain-swept pitches of Swansea to making his test debut against Argentina in Patagonia in 2006; from touring with the Lions in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2021 to dealing with loss and creating a family – Belonging is the autobiography of one of the most compelling figures in world rugby. Told with characteristic honesty, this is his unique personal story of what it takes and what it means to play for your country: what it means to belong.

Download or read book In Search of a City written by Thomas A. Jones and published by Dpi Publishing. This book was released on 2007-09 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Part memoir and part history, this book traces the Boston Movement from its earliest days and Tom Jones' own spiritual journey from his college years. Showing not only behind-the-scenes background of this Christian movement that started in the early 70s, it also points out its strengths and weaknesses and what all committed spiritual groups can learn from it.

Download or read book Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor written by D. A. Carson and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2008-02-05 with total page 162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: D. A. Carson's father was a pioneering church-planter and pastor in Quebec. But still, an ordinary pastor-except that he ministered during the decades that brought French Canada from the brutal challenges of persecution and imprisonment for Baptist ministers to spectacular growth and revival in the 1970s. It is a story, and an era, that few in the English-speaking world know anything about. But through Tom Carson's journals and written prayers, and the narrative and historical background supplied by his son, readers will be given a firsthand account of not only this trying time in North American church history, but of one pastor's life and times, dreams and disappointments. With words that will ring true for every person who has devoted themselves to the Lord's work, this unique book serves to remind readers that though the sacrifices of serving God are great, the sweetness of living a faithful, obedient life is greater still.

Download or read book Low Country written by J. Nicole Jones and published by Catapult. This book was released on 2021-04-13 with total page 157 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "From horse thieves to hurricanes, from shattered Southern myths to fractured family ties, from Nashville to Myrtle Beach to Miami, Low Country is a lyrical, devastating, fiercely original memoir" of one family's changing fortunes in the Low Country of South Carolina (Justin Taylor, author of Riding with the Ghost). J. Nicole Jones is the only daughter of a prominent South Carolina family, a family that grew rich building the hotels and seafood restaurants that draw tourists to Myrtle Beach. But at home, she is surrounded by violence and capriciousness: a grandfather who beats his wife, a barman father who dreams of being a country music star. At one time, Jones's parents can barely afford groceries; at another, her volatile grandfather presents her with a fur coat. After a girlhood of extreme wealth and deep debt, of ghosts and folklore, of cruel men and unwanted spectacle, Jones finds herself face to face with an explosive possibility concerning her long-abused grandmother that she can neither speak nor shake. And through the lens of her own family's catastrophes and triumphs, Jones pays homage to the landscapes and legends of her childhood home, a region haunted by its history: Eliza Pinckney cultivates indigo, Blackbeard ransacks the coast, and the Gray Man paces the beach, warning of Hurricane Hazel.

Download or read book Tom Jones Just Help Yourself written by Vernon Hopkins and published by Iponymous Publishing Limited. This book was released on 2012 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Bass guitarist, Vernon Hopkins, the founder of the 60's rock group the Senators, which later became the Squires, has written a memoir about his time spent with Tom Jones. It was Vernon who insisted on bringing in Tom as lead singer on the rocky road to fame and super stardom. Vernon became as close as a brother to Tom, until stardom tore them apart.

Download or read book Just Help Yourself written by Vernon Hopkins and published by Seren. This book was released on 2019-02-11 with total page 284 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The story that the public were never supposed to read. Brilliantly written, a must-read for all those who want to know the real story." – Peter Karrie "Colourful, candid, humorous and poignant, I couldn't put the book down. Vibrant with unique and wonderful characters." – Iris Williams Just Help Yourself tells the story of The Senators – soon to become The Squires – in 1960s Britain. The band, formed by sixteen-year-old Vernon Hopkins, was to play something called rock and roll, the fresh musical import from America. From practising in his parents' front room to a reputation as the best band in south Wales took just a year. But by 1961 they were in need of a new singer. Vernon recruited local boy Tommy Woodward, and the rest is history. Or is it? This is a classic tale of rock and roll. Successful young musicians from 'the provinces' are enticed to London by their hopeful management, in search of the game-changing record deal. After a period of hardship in Notting Hill, and the addition of a new and thrusting manager, they get a break: records are cut, gigs are played, tv appearances arrive. But as success and money comes the star singer is ruthlessly uncoupled from the band. While Tim Jones takes off, The Squires become increasingly peripheral. Finally, they are cleverly and brutally sacked by the manager, and left to carve out their own careers in the shadow of Jones' success. Vernon Hopkins's authentic story reveals the highs and lows of the music business, and of the allegedly Swinging Sixties. It is full of gritty detail about life in Pontypridd and London, and with great insight into the music business, Just Help Yourself is a cautionary tales of ambition and success. Illustrated with previously unseen photographs from the author's archive.