SIR Tom Jones has revealed he has a pioneering 19th-century Welsh surgeon and his unique throat pastilles to thank for keeping his extraordinary voice in pristine condition throughout four decades as a singing superstar.
It’s not only 70-year-old Sir Tom who swears by the medicine man’s long-lasting creation – most of Wales’ major singing stars never leave home without them too.
In testimonies on the Vocalzone website , Stereophonics’ Kelly Jones, Katherine Jenkins, Cerys Matthews, Lostprophets’ Ian Watkins and The Last Republic’s Johnnie Owen all sing the praises of the little black pastille.
They’re not alone. Vocalzone has become the music industry’s best hidden secret – stars like Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Jay-z, Jarvis Cocker, Bette Midler, David Bowie and Robbie Williams also order regular supplies from the manufacturer Kestrel Medical Ltd, a small Devon-based, family-run company.
Speaking exclusively to Wales on Sunday, Sir Tom – who releases his new album Praise & Blame on July 26 – revealed: “I’ve been using these things since the ’60s. An old singer in the Welsh clubs told me about them.
“The company sent me a letter last year saying did I know it was invented by a Welsh ear nose and throat doctor. He had a practice in London but he came from West Wales.
“Apparently, he looked after Caruso. When I first bought these things they used to come in a tin and they had on there ‘made for one man – Caruso’.
“They send me free boxes anyway so that’s always handy!”
William Lloyd, who was born in 1872 and died aged 73, was an ear nose and throat specialist at The London Hospital. He was originally from Carmarthen and invented Vocalzone in the early 1900s especially for Italian tenor Enrico Caruso, then the biggest star on the planet.
Caruso was performing at Covent Garden and was struggling with a tired voice when Lloyd answered his call for help.
The singing superstar was so impressed with the result that he retained the Welshman who became his travelling companion whenever he was touring.
Vocalzone Throat Pastilles have been on sale in the UK ever since and are still manufactured to the same formula used for Caruso.
They are highly-prized by singers, speakers and anyone who relies on their voice professionally.
“He had his work cut out with Caruso because he smoked like a chimney, even on stage,” said George Ponsford of Kestrel Medical sales and marketing director.
Vocalzone was William Lloyd’s invention and it was originally manufactured in a factory in Carmarthen by his brother Thomas Lloyd, who was a chemist.
“William Lloyd was very well connected. He knew all the leading figures in entertainment and politics at the time. He was very good friends with former Prime Minister David Lloyd George,” said Mr Ponsford.
“He was very proud of his Welsh heritage and raised funds for Welsh troops during the first world war by staging a show at The Alhambra Theatre, which is now the Odeon cinema, Leicester Square.
“When he died, he left the company to his nieces and nephews. Sometime after it was sold to a US company who kept hold of it for many years.
“My father was working as a sales agent for them in the UK and wanted to set up on his own, so he bought the brand from them and launched Kestrel Medical.
