Sir Tom Jones has revealed his late wife wanted him to keep singing.
Sir Tom Jones
The 76-year-old music legend was left devastated when Lady Melinda Rose Woodward - known as Linda - lost a short battle with cancer in April and when he first got the tragic news he cancelled a string of concerts, including the entire leg of his Asian tour, in order to be by her side during her last days.
He initially took some much needed time out whilst he dealt with his grief, but Tom has slowly eased himself back into work and has got back on stage for gigs and has revealed Linda, his wife of 59 years, urged him to carry on performing before she passed away.
Tom - who has son Mark from his marriage - insists returning to the stage on July 16, at the Summer Sessions show at Castle Howard in York, England, and starting his European and UK tour will provide him with the strength he needs, to work through his grief.
The 'She's a Lady' singer - real name Thomas Woodward - said: "We knew each other since we were kids. It was fast, she had cancer. I got the call that it was terminal, my heart stopped. I flew back to Los Angeles, and she had a week left.
"I have to be strong. First of all, I love singing. I mean, I get out of bed and I sing. I can't help it. Linda wanted me to keep singing, she said not to stop. She was a strong woman."
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