Tom Jones

It’s not unusual for an icon of Tom Jones’ stature to stay a celebrity for as long as he has—nostalgia, after all, knows no bounds. But Jones has made a greater effort to stay cool than most aging panty-targets: A few self-deprecating movie roles and wisely chosen collaborations have tempered the otherwise strictly kitsch appeal of the Welsh sex symbol with the bulge. Add to that a renewed appreciation for the music of Burt Bacharach (who occasionally used Jones as a vehicle for his songs), and is it any wonder that Jones continues to keep baby boomers and their unwitting offspring in thrall? His appeal reaches even higher social circles, too: Queen Elizabeth granted the miner’s son a knighthood.

Updated 07/27/2010