In the swinging 1960s, Tom Jones soared to global stardom. With his powerhouse voice and electrifying stage presence, he captured the world’s attention with hits like “It’s Not Unusual”, “What’s New Pussycat?”, and “Delilah.” But in 1969, something shocking happened: he was excluded from the inaugural BRIT Awards (then called the British Phonographic Industry Awards) — for being too successful in the U.S.
The organizers reportedly felt that Tom Jones had become “too Americanized” and no longer represented a purely British artist, even though he was still proudly flying the British flag around the globe. Critics slammed the decision, calling it an act of reverse snobbery — punishing an artist for doing too well internationally.
Jones didn’t publicly lash out, but in a 1980 interview, he hinted at his disappointment:
“Every artist dreams of international success. If that means being disowned at home, I’ll take it as a backhanded compliment.”
Ironically, the snub only added to his legend. He became seen as a global icon shunned by the very country that birthed him. It wasn’t until the 1990s that the UK music scene fully embraced him again, culminating in his 2000 BRIT Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.