Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer known for hits like 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' and 'Holding Out for a Hero', has died at the age of 75. Her death was confirmed on her website by her family, who stated she 'unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for.'
Health decline and emergency surgery
Tyler had been in an induced coma after emergency bowel surgery and the removal of her appendix. She was admitted to a hospital in Faro, Portugal, where she owns a home, after feeling unwell about a month ago. Her representative had confirmed earlier that she was 'no longer in a coma' but remained in intensive care and 'very unwell.'
According to Portuguese publication Correio da Manha, Tyler suffered a cardiac arrest following the life-saving surgery and had to be resuscitated. Her friend Liberto Mealha said she had traveled to the Algarve and began experiencing severe abdominal pain, leading to her transfer to Faro hospital after her appendix burst.
Early career and vocal cord surgery
Born Gaynor Hopkins on June 8, 1951, in Skewen, Neath, Wales, Tyler began her career after finishing second in a talent contest. She worked as a backup singer before being spotted with her band Imagination in a Swansea club in 1975, signing with RCA Records and adopting the stage name Bonnie Tyler.
Her first hit, 'Lost in France,' came in 1976, but her career faced a setback when she underwent vocal cord nodule surgery. Tyler recalled to The Observer in 2009 that she damaged her voice by screaming out of frustration after the operation, leading to a six-month recovery. However, her voice returned huskier, which she credited for her success: 'It turned out losing my voice was not too treacherous for me – I had my first hit in America with my new husky voice on It’s a Heartache.'
Breakthrough with 'It's a Heartache' and 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'
'It's a Heartache,' released in November 1977, became Tyler's first major hit, peaking at number four in the UK singles chart and number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Her distinctive voice led to comparisons with Rod Stewart.
In the 1980s, she signed with CBS and collaborated with songwriter Jim Steinman, known for his work with Meat Loaf. Together, they produced 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' in February 1983, which became one of the best-selling singles of all time. Steinman also wrote 'Holding Out for a Hero.' Tyler continued to release albums into the 2020s, with her final work 'The Best Is Yet to Come' in 2021.
Eurovision and personal life
Tyler represented the UK in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest with 'Believe in Me,' finishing 19th with 23 points. She described the experience as 'incredible' and likened it to the Grammy awards.
Tyler is survived by her husband, Robert Sullivan, a former Olympian in judo whom she married in 1973. The couple had no children; Tyler suffered a miscarriage at age 39. She also leaves behind three sisters, two brothers, 16 nieces and nephews, and 14 great nieces and nephews.
Charity work and legacy
Throughout her career, Tyler participated in charity ventures, including the Anti-Heroin Project in 1986 and Ferry Aid in 1987, releasing a cover of 'Let It Be' for Zeebrugge Disaster victims. She was a patron of Bobath Children’s Therapy in Wales and an ambassador for Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice for Wales. She also raised funds for victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the Covid-19 pandemic.
