The Skewen-born singer became one of Wales’ biggest global stars with hits including Total Eclipse of the Heart and Holding Out for a Hero
WELSH singer Bonnie Tyler, one of the country’s most successful and recognisable musical exports, has died at the age of 75.
The Skewen-born star, whose real name was Gaynor Hopkins, rose from South Wales to international fame with a string of major hits and a voice that became instantly recognisable across the world.
Best known for her 1983 power ballad Total Eclipse of the Heart, Tyler also enjoyed huge success with It’s a Heartache and Holding Out for a Hero, cementing her place as one of the defining voices of 1970s and 1980s pop rock.
Her distinctive husky voice became her trademark. It followed surgery on her vocal cords in the 1970s, after which her altered tone helped set her apart from other singers of the era.
Born in Skewen, near Neath, Tyler began performing locally before securing a record deal and achieving chart success in the late 1970s. Her breakthrough came with Lost in France, followed by It’s a Heartache, which became an international hit.
But it was Total Eclipse of the Heart, written and produced by Jim Steinman, that made her a global star. The dramatic ballad topped charts around the world and remains one of the most enduring songs of the decade.
Tyler continued to perform for decades, building a loyal fanbase across Europe and beyond. She represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013 and remained closely associated with Wales throughout her career.
Tributes are expected from across the music world and from fans in Wales, where she will be remembered as one of the nation’s most successful international performers.
Her death marks the loss of a truly distinctive voice and a Welsh star whose music reached generations of listeners around the globe.
