Who Is Jonathan Berkery? Tom Jones’ Son He Has Reportedly Not Acknowledged
Tom Jones had an illegitimate child, Jonathan Berkery, whom he does not want to acknowledge. Berkery has been sleeping in a homeless shelter for a while and hopes he will one day reconnect with the singer.
Tom Jones turns 82 on June 7, 2022, but the singer is showing no signs of slowing down his career. The rock n roll icon wants to make music, a passion he enjoys, for as long as possible.
Tom first made waves in the music industry when his name appeared on the top charts in 1965. His most recent release marks his 41st studio album.
Tom Jones in his recording studio in London, England, circa 1965. | Source: Getty Images
"I don't ever want it to stop. I know that one day it will but thank God my voice has not let me down yet," he said in an interview.
On June 7, 1940, Tom was born in Wales to a miner and homemaker. He found a love for music early and participated in school choirs. As years went by, Tom made a career out of his passion and skill, making a name worldwide.
When he wasn't making music, Tom spent time with his childhood sweetheart and wife, Melinda Trenchard, and their son, Mark. Sadly, after 60 years of marriage, Trenchard passed away from cancer. Although their marriage was long, it was nowhere near perfect because of Tom's infidelities.
HOW MANY KIDS DOES TOM JONES HAVE?
Tom became a first-time father as a teenager. Although being a young dad came with challenges, Tom loved Mark dearly and had a relationship "more like brothers" and father and son.
In 1986, Mark became his father's manager and made Tom appear more relatable to all lovers of music rather than performing only for the wealthy crowd.
Tom also has another son, Jonathan Berkery, whom he had with a model, Katherine, at 47 years old. Unfortunately, Tom hasn't acknowledged his second son.
WHO IS TOM JONES' LOVE CHILD, JONATHAN BERKERY?
Tom Jones during the 25th anniversary MusiCares 2015 Person Of The Year Gala honoring Bob Dylan at the Los Angeles Convention Center on February 6, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
As Tom refused to acknowledge Berkery, the young man grew up in the dark. He became a drug addict and a gun-carrying dealer. He slept on park benches or homeless shelters after he decided to live a clean life. He said:
"It all stems back to my dad. I don't think I realized it for a long time, but I was one angry kid, crying out for a father."
In 1989, Katherine took Tom to court and received $2,500 a month in child support. Although he fulfilled his financial obligation, he never stood as a father and contacted Berkery. "I was very angry. My anger boiled over in school – I fought every kid and rebelled constantly," Berkery said.
Berkery still hopes that his father will one day want to talk. Although Berkery sleeps in a homeless hostel, he claims he does not want his father's money.
TOM JONES NEVER LEFT HIS WIFE DESPITE HAVING MULTIPLE AFFAIRS
Berkery is the only known illegitimate child of the musician. However, he had multiple affairs during his marriage. Tom admitted to having slept with about 250 women a year during his prime time years.
According to one of his women, Tom's wife turned a blind eye to his affairs, which allowed them to reach decades together. In fact, his wife even became friends with Mary Wilson, one of his relationships. While not all marriages would work under such circumstances, theirs did.