Pop singer Tom Jones looking to attract younger fans

NEW YORK, May 12 (UPI) —

Septuagenarian Welsh rocker Tom Jones says his U.S. tour for his new album "Spirit in the Room" is aimed at drawing in younger listeners.

Jones kicked off his tour Saturday at New York City’s Bowery Ball Room, the New York Post reported.

"The idea behind this U.S. tour is to try and see if there are younger fans over here who know about my work," said Jones, 72. "I stopped playing Vegas shows for that reason because when you play there, it has to be the hits every night. That’s all they want, and you’re never breaking new ground."

Jones, a Grammy-winning singer who has had 19 Top 40 hits and sold 100 million records, also said that his hosting "The Voice UK" television show has help boost his popularity with young people.

"Because I’m a coach on ‘The Voice UK,’ there are a lot of younger people who have become aware of me," he said.

Meanwhile, Jones said he is feeling great.

"My health is great, thank God. A couple of years ago in Monte Carlo, I was dehydrated so I stayed in a hospital for a night," Jones said. "But it came out in the British press that I had a heart problem and that I was denying it. So then Jools Holland [a former member of Squeeze] called me up to check on me. He said, ‘The papers are saying that you are denying a heart problem.’ I said, ‘I don’t have a heart problem.’ And he replied, ‘There, you’re denying it again!’"