Bonnie Tyler

Gaynor Sullivan Tyler (née Hopkins; 8 June 1951 – 8 July 2026), known professionally as Bonnie Tyler, was a Welsh singer and songwriter. Known for her distinctive husky voice, she gained prominence with the release of her debut studio album "The World Starts Tonight" (1977) and its singles "Lost in France" and "More Than a Lover". Her 1977 single "It's a Heartache" reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number three on the US Billboard Hot 100. Read more on Last.fm

Gaynor Sullivan Tyler (née Hopkins; 8 June 1951 – 8 July 2026), known professionally as Bonnie Tyler, was a Welsh singer and songwriter. Known for her distinctive husky voice, she gained prominence with the release of her debut studio album "The World Starts Tonight" (1977) and its singles "Lost in France" and "More Than a Lover". Her 1977 single "It's a Heartache" reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number three on the US Billboard Hot 100. In the 1980s, Tyler moved towards rock music through her collaboration with songwriter and producer Jim Steinman. He wrote Tyler's most successful song, "Total Eclipse of the Heart", which sold over 13 million copies worldwide and was released as the lead single from her UK chart-topping album "Faster Than the Speed of Night" (1983). Steinman also wrote her other major 1980s hit, "Holding Out for a Hero". Other successful singles from this period included "Here She Comes" from the 1984 soundtrack to "Metropolis" and "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)", written by Desmond Child and produced by Steinman. She achieved further success in mainland Europe during the 1990s through her collaboration with Dieter Bohlen, who wrote and produced her hit "Bitterblue". In 2003, Tyler re-recorded "Total Eclipse of the Heart" with singer Kareen Antonn; their bilingual duet, titled "Si demain... (Turn Around)", topped the French charts. Tyler released "Rocks and Honey" in 2013, featuring the single "Believe in Me", which she performed while representing the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden. After reuniting with producer David Mackay, she released "Between the Earth and the Stars" (2019) and "The Best Is Yet to Come" (2021). Tyler's work earned her three Grammy Award nominations and three Brit Award nominations, including two nominations for British Female Solo Artist. In 2022, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to music. Her singles "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "It's a Heartache" have estimated sales of more than 6 million units each and are among the best-selling singles of all time. Tyler was born Gaynor Hopkins on 8 June 1951 in Skewen, Neath, Wales. Her father, Glyndwr Hopkins, was a coal miner and Second World War serviceman, and her mother, Elsie Hopkins (née Lewis), was a homemaker. She grew up in a four-bedroom council house with three sisters and two brothers. Through her siblings, she was exposed to a range of singers and musical genres, including Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and The Beatles. Frankie Miller was the first live performer Tyler saw, and she later recorded duets with him. Hopkins attended Rhydhir Comprehensive School in Neath and left at the age of 16 without qualifications before working in a grocery shop. She and her family were Protestant Christians. Her first public performance was as a child in a chapel, where she sang the Anglican hymn "All Things Bright and Beautiful". In April 1969, Hopkins entered a local talent competition organised by her aunt and finished second to an accordionist. Inspired to pursue a singing career, she worked as a backing singer for Bobby Wayne & the Dixies before forming her own band, Imagination. Around this time, she changed her name to Sherene Davis to avoid confusion with Welsh folk singer Mary Hopkin. In 1975, Davis was discovered singing with her band at the Townsman Club in Swansea by talent scout Roger Bell, who invited her to London to record a demo. After several months, she received a recording contract offer from RCA Records. The label suggested that she change her name again, and after compiling a list of names from a newspaper, Davis selected the stage name Bonnie Tyler. Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe became Tyler's managers, songwriters and producers. Her debut single, "My! My! Honeycomb", was released in April 1976 but did not enter the charts. In September 1976, RCA Records promoted her next single, "Lost in France", with a campaign that included inviting music journalists and radio DJs to meet Tyler in Le Touquet, France. The single reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart and led to her first appearance on "Top of the Pops". "More Than a Lover" followed in January 1977 and peaked at number 27 in the UK. Tyler's debut album, "The World Starts Tonight", was released in February 1977. She promoted the album with her first UK tour as a guest artist with Gene Pitney. The album did not chart in the UK but reached number two in Sweden. In spring 1977, Tyler underwent surgery to remove vocal-cord nodules and was advised to rest her voice. After later screaming in frustration, she developed the raspy vocal quality that became associated with her singing style. In July 1977, Tyler released "Heaven", which reached number 24 in Germany. Her fourth single, "It's a Heartache", followed in November 1977 and became one of her most successful recordings, reaching number four in the UK and number three on the Billboard Hot 100. "Here Am I" was released in April 1978 and reached number four in Norway. In 1978, David Mackay left Scott and Wolfe's management team, and Gordon Mills briefly became Tyler's manager. Mills organised her first tour of the United States in July 1978, including performances at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles supporting Tom Jones. Tyler's second studio album, "Natural Force", was released in May 1978. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with sales of more than 500,000 copies. Scott and Wolfe produced Tyler's third album, "Diamond Cut", with Robin Geoffrey Cable. Released in February 1979, it reached the top 20 in Finland, Norway and Sweden, but reached number 145 in the United States. Tyler expressed dissatisfaction with RCA Records' focus on country-oriented material. The album included the single "My Guns Are Loaded", which reached number 10 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart. In summer 1979, Tyler had another UK top 40 hit with "(The World Is Full of) Married Men". She recorded the song for the film adaptation of Jackie Collins' novel of the same name and performed it during the film's closing credits. In November 1979, Tyler represented the United Kingdom at the Yamaha World Popular Song Festival in Japan. She won the Grand Prix International award for her performance of "Sitting on the Edge of the Ocean", written by Scott and Wolfe. They co-produced her fourth album, "Goodbye to the Island", with Hugh Murphy. Released in 1981, the album only charted in Norway. Tyler declined RCA's offer to extend her contract, citing dissatisfaction with her artistic direction and limited performance opportunities. After her RCA contract ended, Tyler signed with CBS/Columbia. She chose Jim Steinman as producer after considering several other producers. Steinman initially declined but later agreed after hearing demos of the rock material Tyler wanted to record. Tyler's fifth studio album was partially recorded at the Power Station in New York and featured musicians including members of the E Street Band, Rick Derringer on guitar, Rory Dodd and Eric Troyer on backing vocals, and Steinman as producer. "Total Eclipse of the Heart" was released in the UK on 11 February 1983 and became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with more than 13 million copies sold worldwide. The album "Faster Than the Speed of Night" was released in 1983 and reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. It reached number three on the US Cashbox chart and number four on the Billboard 200, selling more than one million copies in the United States. Tyler received several award nominations, including two Grammy nominations, two American Music Award nominations and a Brit Award nomination. She was also named Best Recording Artist at the Variety Club of Great Britain Awards and received a Goldene Europa award. Tyler also achieved success with soundtrack recordings during the 1980s. In 1984, she released "Holding Out for a Hero" from the soundtrack of "Footloose". In 1985, her recording of "Here She Comes" for Giorgio Moroder's restoration of the 1927 film "Metropolis" received a Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. In 1986, Tyler released "Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire", her sixth studio album. The album was another collaboration with Steinman and featured songs written by Desmond Child and Bryan Adams, as well as a cover of Freda Payne's "Band of Gold". The single "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)" became the album's most successful release. In 1987, Tyler collaborated with Mike Oldfield on the title track of his album "Islands". She also appeared on George Martin's album "Under Milk Wood", based on Dylan Thomas' radio drama of the same name. Tyler released her seventh studio album, "Hide Your Heart", in 1988. Produced by Desmond Child, it included collaborations with Michael Bolton, Albert Hammond and Diane Warren. The album's singles "Hide Your Heart", "Save Up All Your Tears" and "The Best" later became successful recordings for other artists. In 1987, Tyler also collaborated with Brazilian singer Fábio Júnior on the bilingual album "Sem Límites pra Sonhar", which included the single "Sem Limites pra Sonhar (Reaching for the Infinite Heart)". In 1990, Tyler signed with Hansa/BMG Ariola and began work on her eighth studio album. She collaborated with producers including Dieter Bohlen, Giorgio Moroder, Nik Kershaw and Roy Bittan. "Bitterblue" was released on 11 November 1991 and became a commercial success in mainland Europe, topping the charts in Austria and Norway and achieving four-times Platinum status in Norway. Tyler's following albums, "Angel Heart" (1992) and "Silhouette in Red" (1993), were also successful in Europe. She received awards including Best International Singer at the Goldene Europa Awards in 1993 and Best Pop/Rock Singer at the ECHO Awards in 1994. In 1995, Tyler moved to EastWest Records and released "Free Spirit". The album featured collaborations with producers including Humberto Gatica, David Foster and Jim Steinman. The single "Making Love (Out of Nothing At All)", a cover of the Air Supply song, reached number 45 on the UK Singles Chart in 1996. Tyler released "All in One Voice" in 1998. The album was recorded partly with Jimmy Smyth in Dublin and Harold Faltermeyer in Hamburg. The same year, she appeared on Rick Wakeman's orchestral album "Return to the Centre of the Earth", performing the song "Is Anybody There?". In 2001, Tyler released the compilation album "Greatest Hits", which entered the UK Albums Chart at number 18 and was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry. In 2002, she began recording her thirteenth studio album, "Heart Strings", which featured orchestral versions of songs by artists including U2, The Beatles and Bruce Springsteen. The album was released in 2003. In 2003, Tyler recorded "Total Eclipse of the Heart" as a bilingual duet with Kareen Antonn. Retitled "Si demain... (Turn Around)", the song topped the charts in France and Belgium. Tyler released "Simply Believe" in 2004, featuring new songs, re-recordings and covers. Her fifteenth studio album, "Wings", followed in 2005. In 2006, Tyler released "From the Heart: Greatest Hits". In 2009, she joined the Welsh male voice choir Only Men Aloud! on tour and recorded "Total Eclipse of the Heart" with them for their album "Band of Brothers". She also appeared on "Hollyoaks Later", performing "Holding Out for a Hero". In 2010, Tyler released "Something Going On" with country singer Wayne Warner and a new version of "Making Love (Out of Nothing At All)" with Matt Pétrin. She toured Australia and New Zealand with Robin Gibb. In 2011, she appeared on Swedish television programme "Kvällen är din", performed on the Ukrainian version of "The X Factor", and received a BMI London Award after "It's a Heartache" surpassed three million airplays in the United States. In 2012, Tyler began recording her sixteenth studio album, "Rocks and Honey", in Nashville, Tennessee. The album included the single "Believe in Me", which Tyler performed while representing the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013. She finished in 19th place with 23 points. "Rocks and Honey" was released in May 2013 and reached number 52 on the UK Albums Chart. Between 2014 and 2018, Tyler released several recordings and performed internationally. She appeared on Rhydian Roberts' album "One Day like This", contributed to Spike's album "100% Pure Frankie Miller", performed Disney songs on German television, and collaborated with German metal band Axel Rudi Pell on the single "Love's Holding On". In 2019, Tyler released "Between the Earth and the Stars", her seventeenth studio album. The album featured duets with Rod Stewart, Francis Rossi and Cliff Richard. She toured Europe in support of the album and performed at events including BBC Proms in the Park. In 2021, Tyler released her eighteenth studio album, "The Best Is Yet to Come". In 2022, she released the duet "Into the Sunset" with Mike Batt and performed with the cast of "Tanz der Vampire" in Stuttgart. She later embarked on her first tour of South America and published her memoir, "Straight from the Heart", in 2023. In 2024, Tyler released the live album "In Berlin", recorded during her "Between the Earth and the Stars Live Tour". In 2025, she released the single "Together", produced by David Guetta and Hypaton. In 2026, she released the single "Only Love". On 6 May 2026, Tyler underwent emergency surgery in Faro, Portugal, where she lived, for a perforated intestine. She was placed in an induced coma in intensive care. After doctors attempted to wake her, she suffered a cardiac arrest but was resuscitated. Her spokesperson later stated that she remained seriously ill but stable. Tyler died on 8 July 2026 at the age of 75 from complications related to the illness for which she had been receiving treatment. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnie_Tyler Studio albums The World Starts Tonight (1977) Natural Force (1978) Diamond Cut (1979) Goodbye to the Island (1981) Faster Than the Speed of Night (1983) Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire (1986) Hide Your Heart (1988, also known as Notes from America) Bitterblue (1991) Angel Heart (1992) Silhouette in Red (1993) Free Spirit (1995) All in One Voice (1998) Heart Strings (2003, also known as Heart & Soul) Simply Believe (2004) Wings (2005, also known as Celebrate) Rocks and Honey (2013) Between the Earth and the Stars (2019) The Best Is Yet to Come (2021) Read more on Last.fm. 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