Bonnie Tyler Mini Biography

Bonnie Tyler (born 8 June 1951 in Skewen, Neath, Wales) is a Welsh rock singer. Born Gaynor Hopkins, she is recognisable by her highly distinctive, husky voice.

Born to a family that included three sisters and two brothers, her father worked in a coal mine and her mother (an opera lover) shared her love for music with her children. She grew up listening to Motown music and female artists like Janis Joplin and Tina Turner.

In 1970, at age 19, she entered a talent contest, singing Mary Hopkin’s hit "Those Were the Days," but only came in second place. She then was chosen to sing in a band with front man, Bobby Wayneand were known as Bobby Wayne & The Dixies. Two years later, she formed her own band called Imagination and performed with them in pubs and clubs all over south Wales. It was then that she decided to adopt the stage name of Sherene Davies (she took these names from her niece and favorite aunt).

In 1973, she married Robert Sullivan, a real estate speculator. In 1975, she was discovered by Roger Bell, who arranged a recording contract for her with RCA Records. Before signing, she was asked to choose a different stage name, a process through which she finally became known as Bonnie Tyler.

In September 2006, Tyler made her first appearance on U.S. television in many years, as she sang a duet of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" with actress Lucy Lawless on the American show Celebrity Duets.

In 2007, a new Bonnie Tyler Greatest Hits collection, From the Heart, was released. A new studio album is also in the works. Also in 2007, Tyler contributed with a track, "I Don’t Know How to Love Him", for the charity record Over the Rainbow. Tyler mentioned in a recent interview[citation needed] that she will be working with Jim Steinman again for her next album.

In November 2008, Tyler sang a duet of "Making Love out of Nothing at All" with J.T.'s little cousin Matt Petrin.

In December 2008, Tyler appeared on the Irish television programme The Podge & Rodge Show on RTÉ 2.