By Monk
Bonnie Tyler, the first lady of Welsh rock ‘n’ roll, has died suddenly at the age of 75.
Known for her gravelly, sultry vocal style, Tyler – who was born Gaynor Hopkins in the village of Skewen, outside Swansea – first shot to fame in the late 1970s, with hits such as ‘Lost In France’ and ‘It’s A Heartache’.
She entered the rock arena in 1983, when she collaborated with Jim Steinman, then best known for his work with Meat Loaf. The partnership resulted in the singles ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’, which went on to sell 13 million copies, and ‘Holding Out For A Hero’, as well as the No 1 album ‘Faster Than The Speed Of Light’.
She retained her rock credentials through collaborations with songwriters such as Desmond Child and Diane Warren, as well as the likes of Bryan Adams and Rick Wakeman.
Altogether, she released 18 albums and 83 singles over the course of her 50 year career. She passed away in hospital in Faro, Portugal.