The 5-minute Interview: Jack Jones, Singer

'People go for simple songs but I like something more complicated'

Hailed by Frank Sinatra as "one of the major singers of our time", Jones, 70, has recorded more than 50 albums and sang the theme tune for the American television series 'The Love Boat'. In May he embarks on a 13-date UK tour to mark 50 years in the music industry

If I wasn't talking to you right now I'd be...

Eating my breakfast, which is what I'm trying to do now! I normally have bagels with smoked salmon and a cup of coffee.

A phrase I use far too often is...

Apparently I'm always saying "That was unbelievable".

I wish people would take more notice of...

Sophisticated chord structure in music. I find great beauty in songs with a creative interpretation, but most people generally don't get that, and go for the simple songs, but I prefer something a bit more complicated, which is more meaningful to the creator.

The most surprising thing that happened to me was...

I think that was probably when I won my first Grammy. I hadn't been in the music business that long really so it came as a bit of a shock to me. I didn't expect it at all.

A common misconception of me is...

That I am elegant. Because I'm shy and a bit quiet I think people assume I'm an elegant person.

I am not a politician but...

I still reserve the right to dislike them all!

I'm good at...

Singing, producing and I'm quite good with computers.

I'm bad at...

Playing golf. That's one of the main things I'm bad at, so I don't play it any more.

The ideal night out is...

Listening to jazz, which I love. I also like to eat dinner outside in the desert because it's very nice here at this time of the year.

In moments of weakness I...

Eat chocolate. I particularly like Hershey's chocolate, the kind which has almonds in it.

You know me as a singer but in another life I'd have been...

I was always one of those fortunate people who never wanted to be anything other than a singer and an actor. Most people know me as a singer but I am also an actor.

The best age to be is...

The age where you can decide to be anything you want. But I suppose being young is good, because you've got such a long life ahead of you.

In a nutshell my philosophy is...

The golden rule is to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Amy Fenton