Wife of British singer Tom Jones dies after short battle with cancer

The wife of British superstar singer Sir Tom Jones has died after a short battle with cancer.

The tragedy has come just weeks after Tom Jones suddenly announced the cancellation of planned concerts in Asia and the Middle East, saying it was for a serious illness in his family. He did not say at the time the patient was his wife, Lady Melinda Jones.

His tour would have seen him perform at concerts in Japan, Thailand, South Korea and then the United Arab Emirates.

In a message on social media posted Monday the Wales-born singer announced that his beloved wife of 59 years, Lady Melinda Jones, known as Linda, has passed away.

The 75-year-old singer said his wife had fought a "short but fierce battle with cancer".

The statement added: "Surrounded by her husband and loved ones, she passed away peacefully at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.

"Sir Tom and his family have asked for privacy at this difficult time and no further information is currently available."

The couple became childhood sweethearts when they were both aged 12 and living in the South Wales mining village in in Treforest, Pontypridd. They started dating when they were aged 15 and married at 16. Next year would have been their 60th wedding anniversary. The couple had one son, Mark, who is Sir Tom's manager.

Jones developed an early passion for singing as a boy, and was thrust into the spotlight after being spotted singing in the miner's clubs in the coal valleys of South Wales.

In the 1960s he became a top performer in Britain and later carved out a career in Las Vegas, propelling him to a world star.

Jones has had 36 Top 40 hits in Britain and 19 in the United States; some of his notable songs include "It's Not Unusual", "What's New Pussycat", "Delilah", "Green, Green Grass of Home", "She's a Lady", "Kiss", and "Sex Bomb".

Source: XINHUA