MANILA, Philippines?Tom Jones is the kind of veteran performer whom the whole family?from grannies to their children and grandkids?can enjoy watching.

The reason is that the 69-year-old Welsh singer has remained relevant through the decades; his most recent album, 2008?s ?24 Hours,? features collaborations with U2?s Bono and The Edge.

Two weeks before his concert on March 28 at the Araneta Coliseum, Jones granted this phone interview, facilitated by DJ Baby John of RJ-FM.

Is it true that you were heavily influenced by Elvis Presley?

Yes, we were then playing rock and roll in South Wales. That could be anything from Elvis Presley to Roy Orbison, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis?

?It?s Not Unusual? went to No. 1 in the UK and was in the US Top 10 in 1965, a time when the Beatles were leading the British Invasion in music. Did you feel you were also part of that movement?

In 1965, I was doing all these British TV shows like ?Top of the Pops,? ?Ready Steady Go? ? with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones ? Most British music before the Beatles were covers of American records. The Beatles changed all that, so everybody who was performing at that time in Britain felt like ? we were part of that British pop invasion.

Your manager Gordon Mills was instrumental in your adapting various musical styles, including ballads like ?Green, Green Grass of Home? and ?Delilah.? Did you always see yourself capable of singing anything?

Yeah? well it was great training ground to sing in clubs in Wales. Working class people were mostly coal miners who brought along their wives or girlfriends and they wanted to hear a wide variety of stuff. I would sing ballads like ?I Believe,? and then hit them with ?Great Balls of Fire.? So I was well-prepared?

Your version of ?Kiss? was the start of a series of great covers of contemporary songs. Whose idea was it?

I?ve been doing ?Kiss? the original Prince version live on stage with my band? And then The Art of Noise saw me do it on British television and they asked would I record it with them. More great collaborations came after that? Robbie Williams, the Cardigans, Stereophonics?

It?s amazing that you?re still in good shape and performing for more than 40 years now. Do you have any particular regimen?

I go to the gym. It has become easier for me to get in shape because most of the hotels I stay at have gyms. There?s the cross trainer, I get on there and do about an hour? to burn calories and exercise my breathing as well.

What can your Filipino fans expect at your show?

The many sides of Tom Jones. I?ll be doing the favorites as well as new things? It?s close to a two-hour show. I?ll be singing nonstop.