Tom Jones and Elvis Presley: The Story Behind the King’s “Twin Voice”
When two of the most powerful voices in music history met in Las Vegas in 1965, something extraordinary happened. Tom Jones had just exploded onto the scene with “It’s Not Unusual”, while Elvis Presley was in the middle of a new phase in his career — the era of his famous Vegas comeback shows. Neither man could have guessed that night would mark the beginning of one of the most legendary friendships in showbiz.
The Night They Met in Vegas
It was at the Flamingo Hotel, after one of Tom’s first Las Vegas performances. Elvis, always curious about new talents, came to see the young Welshman everyone was talking about. According to Jones, Presley watched the show from the side of the stage — and when it ended, the King came straight to his dressing room, arms wide open. “Man, that voice! You sound just like me!” Elvis laughed. From that moment, they were inseparable.
Late-Night Singing Sessions
The friendship quickly turned into a deep bond. The two singers often met after hours in Elvis’s hotel suite at the Hilton. There, surrounded by friends and musicians, they would sing gospel songs until sunrise — “Crying in the Chapel,” “How Great Thou Art,” and Tom’s favorite, “Without Love.” Jones once said that those jam sessions were the most spiritual moments of his life: “When Elvis sang gospel, he wasn’t performing. He was praying.”
They admired each other’s energy. Elvis loved Tom’s power and phrasing; Tom admired Elvis’s charisma and stage command. “Elvis told me, ‘You’re the only guy who sings like me — my twin voice,’” Jones recalled in multiple interviews. Fans have debated that quote for decades, but several close friends of Presley confirmed that he did say it — and meant it as the highest compliment.
Brotherhood Beyond Fame
Their friendship wasn’t built on competition but mutual respect. They often worked out together, sharing jokes and family dinners. When Presley struggled with loneliness, he called Tom just to talk about ordinary things — their mothers, their favorite meals, the pressures of fame.
Tom often defended Elvis publicly against tabloid rumors, calling him “the kindest man I’ve ever known.” He even said that Elvis gave him advice that shaped his career: “Never let them change who you are on stage. That’s what keeps your soul alive.”
The Final Goodbye
When Elvis passed away in 1977, Tom Jones was devastated. He was performing in Las Vegas that week and couldn’t hold back tears during the show. “It felt like losing a brother,” he later said. “There will never be another like him.”
Decades later, Tom still keeps a portrait of Elvis in his home. In every concert, he sings with the same passion and phrasing that once made the King call him his “twin voice.”