Jack Jones

Irwin Thomas (born Irwin Thomas Whittridge; 6 February 1971) is an Australian-American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He has performed professionally as Jack Jones, including as lead vocalist-guitarist in the rock band Southern Sons (1990–1996). He is known for his collaborations with John Farnham. Since 2000, he has performed as Irwin Thomas and released a debut solo album, The Evolution of Irwin Thomas, in 2002. In 2017 his collaboration album with Rick Price, California Dreaming, peaked at No. 7 on the ARIA Albums chart. His other bands or collaborations include Electric Mary, She Said Yes, Ahmet Zappa and Dami Im. Southern Sons reformed in 2019, they have periodically performed and toured into 2026.

Early life Irwin Thomas Whittridge Jnr was born on 6 February 1971, in Manhattan, New York City. His father, Irwin Thomas Whittridge Snr (2 September 190824 June 1971), was a former World War 2 army private, who used the stage name, Jack Goode. As Goode he was a Broadway and Hollywood musical comedy actor, who died aged 62 of acute infectious hepatitis following surgery. Thomas was later known as Jack Thomas Whittridge Jones.

Music career While at a secondary school in the city of Traralgon, in the mid-1980s, Thomas was a member of rock groups Get off the Cat and then Survival. In the late 1980s, he was a member of Hans Valen, which covered material by United States heavy rocker, Van Halen; and then he was in Gnomes of Zurich. He was considered too young for that group.

Southern Sons' debut self-titled album was released on 1 June 1990, which peaked at No. 5 on the ARIA Albums chart. Jones and Buckle toured Australia and Europe as members of Farnham's backing band to promote Chain Reaction. and six of eleven tracks for their third album, Zone (1995). The latter album was co-produced by the band with former member, Bowman. Debra Byrne's Sleeping Child (July 1994), Phil and Tommy Emmanuel's Terra Firma (April 1995), Bachelor Girl's Waiting for the Day (November 1998), and Farnham's Live at the Regent Theatre 1st July 1999 (1999) as well as touring in Farnham's backing band for the I Can't Believe He's 50 Tour. Late in the next year Thomas and Donati joined Tina Arena's backing band for her national tour in support of her third solo studio album, In Deep (August 1997). Thomas covered the tracks "Are You Old Enough", "Voodoo Chile" and "Both of Me", he also performed a duet with Tommy Emmanuel on "Nothing to Lose".

In 2019 Southern Sons re-formed after 22 years, for One Electric Day concert. The group toured Australia in 2025 and again in 2026.

Private life Jones was married to New Zealand-born Australian actress Rebecca Gibney from 1992 to 1995, which ended in divorce. In December 1994, Gibney promoted her recent romantic comedy film, Lucky Break; she described her differences from her character, to The Canberra Times David Bongiorno: "She's so unlike any other character I've played before. She's a woman you love to hate... And there's a part of me in there, because I know I wouldn't let my husband (Jack Jones of Southern Sons) go easily at all!"

Discography Albums + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chartpositions AUS The Evolution of Irwin Thomas Released: 2002 Label: Gotham Records (GOTH02042) - Dis.con.nect.ed Released: 2006 Label: IRUSTU Records - California Dreaming (with Rick Price) Released: 29 September 2017 Label: Sony Music Australia 7 Christmas Is Nearing Released: December 2019 Label: Jack Jones Music - Unplugged Released: February 2020 Label: Jack Jones Music - The Vault Vol 1 Released: 2020 Label: Jack Jones Music -

Extended plays + List of EPs, with selected details Title Details Made in China Released: August 2007 Label: Irwin Thomas