IRIS WILLIAMS,
OBE
Iris Williams has come a
long way ~ but then she’s had to make a
longer journey than most of us. This does not only mean the trip from her home
in Wales to New York ~ but life’s journey . . . one which has taken her from a
children’s orphanage in Wales to an international career as a singer of huge
distinction.
Iris
left school at fifteen to work in a glove factory in the valleys of Wales. Not exactly a flying start in life. . . but
she had a love which turned into a passion, which turned into a career ~
music. Iris could sing… and spent many
hours in Wales singing in church choirs, and eventually, with the help of Iris
Llewellyn, (her music teacher) she achieved a scholarship to the Royal Welsh
College of Music and Drama. Iris returned
to the RWCMD in 1996 to be honored
as a Fellow
of the College.
Iris’
talent and lyrical interpretations of music has taken her around the world. Her
clear, distinctive voice has entertained royalty, presidents, was the first
female entertainer to go to the Falkland Islands 25 years ago… and has given
over 300 Combined Services Entertainment
performances overall ~ as well as concerts to fans everywhere; from the
cabaret spots of NY, to Hollywood, London, Wales and Europe.
Iris’
first major success in Wales was Pererin Wyf, the Welsh version of Amazing
Grace. It was number one in
the charts for two years. Her recording of He Was Beautiful, (Theme from the Deerhunter
) earned her a gold and platinum disc, and an invitation by HM The
Queen to perform at her annual Royal Variety Performance. There followed
fourteen Royal Performances as well as numerous awards and accolades over the
ensuing years.
In
May 1999, Iris was featured in the televised Gala Concert for the National
Assembly of Wales. In that same year Iris was a headliner in the 50th
Anniversary celebration of the RWCMD. This was followed by a BBC-TV series
entitled IRIS WILLIAMS Songbook. Two television specials starring Iris were
aired in the UK in 2002; Iris Williams Echoes the Life of Mabel Mercer
for the BBC and Portread for S4C. Iris is
also a guest artiste with many Choirs and Symphony Orchestras.
Her
musical selection of the classic American standards has made her a popular favorite
in the US as well as the UK. Iris has
had numerous critically acclaimed engagements in the US at the famed Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel in NY, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in LA and at
the Cinegrill in Hollywood. Iris is a regular guest artist on various luxury
Cruise Liners, and
during her lengthy career has worked with; Sir Harry Secombe, Des O’Connor, Sir Tom
Jones, Victor Borge, Bob Hope,
Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennett and a host of others. Iris performed for ten years with Bob Hope at President Gerald R. Ford’s Charity Golf tournaments and Ski Classics
also the Charity concerts for the Betty
Ford Center in Rancho Mirage as well as the Bing Crosby Golf Classic,
run by his wife Katherine. Iris has also
helped charities and causes at home in Wales, from the George Thomas Hospice,
Ty Hafan, Cardiff Body Positive, Variety Club of South Wales, Children in Need,
Rhydyfelin Credit Union and now SAMA 82.
In
the New Year’s Honors List 2004, Iris was awarded an OBE by HM the Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions in
the field of music and for her services to charitable institutions around the
world. In 2006 Iris was one of the major
names to appear at the Brecon
International Jazz Festival in a two hour solo concert and was the same
week admitted to the Gorsedd of Bards
at the National Eisteddfod.
In 2008 Iris was awarded the
highest honor presented by the St. David’s Society of New York ~ the William R Hopkins Award for her
contributions in the field of music and charitable work and helping to promote
Wales in America. Also, in 2008 Iris
was made an Honorary Member of the Treorchy
Male Voice Choir, a rare honor.
In June of 2009 Iris was one of the featured artists in a two week long
celebration of Wales in Washington D.C.
In addition to two panel discussions, one with the then First Minister
Rhodri Morgan, Iris performed a 90 minute concert in the Native American Museum
Theater of the Smithsonian Institution.
For someone who had such a difficult start in life,
who could perhaps, have been forgiven for having a jaundiced view of the world,
Iris has given so much, and delighted so many.
Yes, she’s come a long way . . . and she has a long
way to go as the concerts, cabaret, luxury liners, recordings, media
appearances and not least the energetic charity work shows no sign of abating.
Although
Iris now resides in New York, she still considers Wales her home.
Iris
is
a very special daughter of Wales.
