Giant Jones jam beckons for Tammy

By Carly Udy
Bay singer Tammy Jones will join hundreds of others with the same surname - including stars such as Catherine Zeta-Jones and Tom Jones - in an effort to break a world record.
The 62-year-old Omokoroa woman is one of up to 1600 people heading to the Wales Millennium Centre in The Bay, Cardiff, on November 3 to help break the world record for the largest group of people with the same surname.
The title is held by Sweden with 583 Norbergs and Wales TV channel S4C is aiming to outdo that muster. The audience entirely composed of Joneses will enjoy a variety show starring a host of famous Joneses.
Tammy Jones, who has lived in New Zealand for 10 years, will be one of those performers. In 1975, Miss Jones enjoyed success with her album Let Me Try Again and was the top female artist in Britain that year. She has five albums, "10 to 15 singles" and appeared on countless British TV shows, including her own: Tammy.
She has also made appearances at the London Palladium and the Royal Command Performance in front of Princess Anne.
"I was at the Millennium Centre last year having a look and I said to my friend 'gosh, this is the place to sing' ... it's so prestigious for me to be asked to do it, I couldn't believe it," Miss Jones said.
The show, Jones Jones Jones, will feature music, dance, comedy and special guest appearances. Guinness World Record officials will also attend to validate the attempt.
Miss Jones, who was born in Bangor, North Wales, is a trained opera singer and says her repertoire consists of comedy and songs across the board, from the 1950s-70s including gospel, country and middle-of-the-road popular music.
In 1975 she appeared on top-rating TV show Opportunity Knocks and won the show six weeks in succession, notching up the highest viewers' voting figures ever.
It is estimated that about nine-tenths of people in Wales answer to a total of 100 names, including Jones, Thomas, Davies, Owen, Lloyd, Williams, Griffiths. Jones is one of the most popular and is thought to derive from the Middle-English first name Jon(e).
Miss Jones is eager to hear from other local Jones who would like to support her at the concert.
For more information, contact Miss Jones on 548 1689 or see www.tammy.orcon.net.nz