Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh pop singer whose global hits “It’s a Heartache” and “Total Eclipse of the Heart” have sold over 12 million copies between them.
∙ Influenced by Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, and Dusty Springfield, Tyler decided to pursue a singing career at age 19 after placing second in a local talent show.
∙ While performing at a club with her band Imagination, she was discovered by talent scout Roger Bell, who helped her land a solo deal with RCA in 1975.
∙ Tyler’s second single, 1976’s “Lost in France,” reached the Top 10 in the UK and the Top 20 in Australia, South Africa, and several European countries.
∙ “It’s a Heartache,” which showcased her huskier voice resulting from a recent throat operation, was a worldwide smash, hitting No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978.
∙ “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” from 1983, was the biggest hit of her career, topping the singles charts in the US, the UK, and six other countries.
∙ In 2016, she was honored by Swansea’s Lord Mayor David Hopkins for promoting the Welsh city through her music.