Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer whose husky yet commanding voice made songs such as Total Eclipse of the Heart into 1980s classics, has died aged 75.
Career highlights
The Guardian's music editor, Ben Beaumont-Thomas, remembers Tyler's greatest hits and lesser-known songs. Tyler's breakthrough came with the 1978 single It's a Heartache, which reached number four on the UK Singles Chart. However, her most iconic track, Total Eclipse of the Heart, released in 1983, spent four weeks at number one in the UK and became a global anthem.
Musical legacy
Born Gaynor Hopkins in Skewen, Wales, Tyler adopted her stage name after seeing a sign for a brewery. She sold over 20 million records worldwide and earned three Grammy nominations. Her distinctive raspy voice was the result of a surgical procedure to remove nodules on her vocal cords.
According to Beaumont-Thomas, Tyler's ability to convey raw emotion made her a standout in the pop-rock genre. He noted, 'Her voice could shift from a whisper to a roar, capturing heartbreak and defiance in equal measure.'
Later years and impact
Tyler continued recording and touring into her 70s, releasing her final album, The Best Is Yet to Come, in 2021. She was awarded the MBE for services to music in 2022. Fans and fellow musicians have paid tribute, with Sir Elton John calling her 'one of the greatest voices of our time.'
