Tom Jones to get lifetime Brit Award

LONDON, UK (Brit Awards Website) - Singer Tom Jones will be given an outstanding contribution prize at the 2003 Brit Awards, organisers have announced.
The 62-year-old performer will receive his award at the London ceremony in February.

It honours a music career which began in 1964, with the Welshman becoming famous for his songs like It's Not Unusual, Delilah, and Green Green Grass of Home.
Jones said: "This is great news, I'm really chuffed."

In the late 1960s his TV show became a worldwide hit, and by 1971 he had sold more than 30 million records, becoming a regular fixture on the Las Vegas circuit.

His career was revived by The Art of Noise in the late 1980s with a cover of Prince's Kiss, while a decade later contemporary acts covered his songs in the album Reload.
But he did not win a Brit award until 2000, when he scooped the best male vocalist prize.

Brits chairman Tony Wadsworth said: "Tom Jones is one of the truly great British recording artists who commands respect and admiration from artists in all genres of music."
Past recipients of the award include Sting, U2, David Bowie, Sir Elton John and The Who.

Next year's ceremony will be at Earl's Court, London on 20 February, and will be screened on ITV1 the same night, rather than the following evening, for the first time in 13 years.
But the ceremony will be recorded and edited earlier in the evening, rather than transmitted live.

New categories added for 2003 include best urban act and a single breakthrough act prize, to replace the British and international newcomer awards. Judges voted on Thursday for the acts they want to see in each category.