Iris obtained an OBE for providers to music 21 years in the past
Iris Williams OBE has died aged 79 within the US, the place she was residing. The famend Pontypridd-born singer was finest identified for her hits which included He Was Stunning and Pererin Wyf, the Welsh-language model of Wonderful Grace.
The singer was a product of the Royal Welsh Faculty of Music & Drama the place she obtained a scholarship earlier than occurring to carry out on the Royal Albert Corridor in London for the Queen, in addition to additionally performing for US President Gerald Ford on a number of events.
She rose to fame within the Nineteen Eighties and in 2004 was honoured with an OBE for her contributions to music. For our free day by day briefing on the most important points going through the nation, signal as much as the Wales Issues publication right here.
The 79-year-old carried out on the Welsh BBC pop present, Disc A Daybreak, and later featured in her personal BBC TV present.
She then went on to win Cân i Gymru, a Welsh-language expertise competitors, having carried out the tune I gael Cymru’n Gymru Rydd, which interprets to For a Free Wales.
In 1999, Iris additionally took half in a live performance which celebrated the opening of the Nationwide Meeting of Wales.
Her brother Ashley paid tribute to her to the BBC. He stated: “I by no means met her till we have been adults and it was fantastic to satisfy up along with her. In my view she was one among Wales’ most underrated singers.
“She had an amazing profession, it was very arduous for her rising up.”
The St David’s Society of the State of New York stated Iris had “joined the heavenly refrain the place her joyful singing will certainly convey these joys past measure which now we have been honoured to share”.
They continued: “New York held a particular place in her life and it was right here that she gave delivery to her solely little one Blake.”
Opera singer Beverley Humphreys additionally paid tribute to the singer. She stated: “Iris had her personal distinctive jazz model – vivacious and stylish – with a twinkle in her eye, she had a means of inhabiting every tune she sang.
“Iris was a narrative teller whose voice might set your toes tapping or contact your coronary heart.”
