Famous Welsh Singers

Tom Jones is a Welsh singer who has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. His life and work inspired the 2016 musical, Tom: A Story of Tom Jones. In 2005, for his services to music, Tom Jones was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

Known for her signature raspy voice and blonde locks, Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler soared to fame with her Billboard-charting track It's a Heartache. The 3-time Grammy-nominated singer has previously also sung for the UK at Eurovision. She is also a philanthropist and invests in property, too.

Shirley Bassey is one of the most popular Welsh singers of all time. Blessed with an expressive voice, Shirley Bassey is renowned for recording the theme songs of popular James Bond movies, such as Moonraker, Diamonds Are Forever, and Goldfinger. In 2000, she was appointed a DBE for services to performing arts.

Charlotte Church is a Welsh actress, singer-songwriter, political activist, and television presenter. She achieved popularity after hosting her own chat show for Channel 4, The Charlotte Church Show. As a recording artist, Church has won many awards, including a Hollywood Reporters Young Star Award and Classical BRIT Award. She has also published an autobiography named Voice of an Angel.  

While Classic FM named her The Biggest Selling Classical Artist of the Century, Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins released 13 number-1 albums by age 23. Initially a singing teacher, Jenkins had also worked as a tour guide and a model. Her $10 million record deal with Warner Bros. was the biggest-ever in classical music.

Once the lead singer of the Welsh rock band Lostprophets, Ian Watkins made headlines when he was convicted of multiple sex offenses, including sexual assault of a child, the attempted rape of a toddler, and performance of sexual acts on an animal. He eventually received a 35-year sentence.

Initially aspiring to be a classical singer, Aimee-Ffion Edwards had her first stint with showbiz on the show Wawffactor. As a teenager, she was the only girl in a rugby team. She is equally at ease playing a working-class mother in The Left Behind and a gypsy in Peaky Blinders.

Welsh opera singer Bryn Terfel initially gained fame with his roles in operas such as The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni. The Guildhall alumnus later won a Grammy and 4 Classic Brit Awards. He was also knighted and awarded a CBE honor for his extraordinary achievements in music.

Best known for hosting music shows on various BBC Radio networks, singer-songwriter Cerys Matthews had also previously established the Welsh band Catatonia. She also writes and presents documentaries and has been a reporter for the TV magazine The One Show. Her album Tir has been the best-selling Welsh album in a decade.

Welsh musician Pete Ham soared to fame as the lead singer and composer of the rock band Badfinger. Known for iconic hits such as No Matter What, he also co-wrote the classic Without You. After the band’s manager defrauded and vanished, Ham committed suicide by hanging himself in his garage.

Shaheen Jafargholi is a Welsh singer and actor who achieved popularity in 2009 when he took part in the televised talent show competition Britain's Got Talent where he finished seventh. Since his participation in Britain's Got Talent, Shaheen Jafargholi has released a studio album and has appeared in a couple of TV series.

Welsh actor/comedian Harry Secombe soared to fame with The Goon Show. Part of the British army during World War II, he would often perform comedy acts for the troops. Known for his slapstick comedy, he was also a talented singer. He later hosted religious shows such as ITV’s Highway.

While she was catapulted to fame with the 90s’ pop group Steps, famous for hits such as 5,6,7,8, Lisa Scott-Lee later launched her solo career. She also ventured into reality TV, with the show Totally Scott-Lee and now works as a head teacher at a performing arts academy in Dubai.

Born to working-class parents, in their travel trailer in Wales, singer Dorothy Squires initially worked at a tin plate factory but had started performing at age 16. Achieving phenomenal success with tracks such as I'm Walking Behind You, she later married Roger Moore but died penniless due to her multiple lawsuits.

Once the lead vocalist of the synth-pop group Visage, Steve Strange was a New Romantic icon of sorts in Wales. He soared to fame with the hit Fade to Grey. Openly bisexual, he also struggled with heroin addiction. He eventually succumbed to a heart attack while in Egypt.

Wynne Evans became a household name as the fake opera star Gio Compario in the popular Go Compare insurance commercials. The Welsh singer scored a number 1 classical debut album, A Song in My Heart, and performed as Piangi in The Phantom of the Opera. He is also a regular BBC Radio presenter.

While she began singing at age 13, Welsh singer Jemma Griffiths, better known as Jem, also earned a law degree, pushed by her lawyer father. Experimenting with both electronica and pop/rock, she created masterpieces such as They and Wish I. Her music has been featured in movies such as Monster-in-Law.

Welsh soprano Margaret Price was regarded as one of the greatest singers of her time. Starting her singing lessons at age 9, she won a scholarship to the Trinity School of Music at 15. Born with a leg deformity, she struggled with leg pain throughout her life. Post-retirement, she became a dog breeder.

Reuben De Maid is a Welsh makeup artist and pop singer-signwriter. He rose to fame after performing live on NBC's musical competition show Little Big Shots. He also posts songs and makeup tutorials on his self-titled YouTube channel. 

Born to a Welsh opera singer, Judith Owen was never a stranger to music. A talented singer-songwriter in her own right, she is known for tracks such as Hand on My Heart, which was featured on the soundtrack of As Good As It Gets. She now co-owns a record label with her husband.

Singer and rock-n-roll pianist Geraint Watkins initially played with bands such as Red Beans and Rice. He later collaborated with artists such as Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds, too. He has also had a 15-year stint as a pianist and accordionist with the lesser-known band The Balham Alligators in London pubs.

Welsh singer James Fox, best known for his FA Cup final track Bluebirds Flying High, was born to a musician father and had started playing the piano at age 6. After going professional at 15, he later also performed on Broadway and West End musicals. He has also struggled with gambling addiction.

One of the most versatile opera singers ever, Robert Tear had a lifelong association with the Royal Opera House. His most memorable performances include those of Paris in Tippett’s King Priam and Aschenbach in Death in Venice. The son of a railway clerk, he had started performing in operas by age 7.

Welsh harpist and singer Georgia Ruth began training in the harp at age 7. A Cambridge alumna, she later became a regular on BBC Radio music shows. She has also participated in numerous music events all around the world, from Kolkata to Toronto. She is a supporter of Welsh independence.

Siân James had started participating in local music contests by age 4. The Welsh folk singer later learned the piano and the harp, besides earning a music degree from Bangor University. She has also been the lead vocalist for Bwchadanas, a band she formed with her university friends at Bangor.

Born in the town of Port Talbot in Wales, Leondre Antonio Devries is now known to his fans as Bars from the rapper duo Bars and Melody, Melody being English singer Charlie Lenehan, whom he first met on Facebook. He has also presented Friday Download and is signed to Simon Cowell’s label Syco.