New Delhi:Welsh singing legend Bonnie Tyler, whose unmistakable raspy voice defined some of the biggest power ballads of the 1980s, has died at the age of 75. According to a statement shared by the family on her official Facebook page, the singer Tyler passed away unexpectedly in a hospital in Portugal, where she had been receiving treatment for an illness. Her family and team said they were "heartbroken" by the loss.
Her Facebook caption read: “It is with great sadness that Bonnie’s family and team announce that Bonnie suddenly and unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal from the illness she was being treated for.
Bonnie Tyler passes away at 75
For those not in the know, Bonnie Tyler underwent emergency intestinal surgery in May at a hospital near her home in Faro, Portugal. She was then placed in an induced coma to help her recover and when finally brought out of the coma she remained critically ill in intensive care.
Read the family statement from Bonnie Tyler below:
Who was Bonnie Tyler?
Born Gaynor Hopkins in Skewen, Neath, Wales, on June 8, 1951, Bonnie Tyler rose from humble beginnings to become one of the world's most recognizable voices. She had her first break in 1976 with the UK Top 10 hit Lost in France. Tyler’s gravelly vocal style was an unintended acquisition after throat surgery, and became her trademark, setting her apart from her peers.
She had her international breakthrough with the transatlantic hit It's a Heartache in 1978, which made the Top 5 in the UK and the United States. Tyler etched herself into music history in 1983 with the release of Total Eclipse of the Heart, written and produced by Jim Steinman. The dramatic power ballad hit No 1 on both sides of the Atlantic, earned her a Grammy nomination and made Tyler the first Welsh singer to score a transatlantic No 1 hit. The accompanying album, Faster than the Speed of Night, also debuted at Number 1 on the UK Albums Chart.
Tyler, who never quite achieved the phenomenal success of 'Total Eclipse of the Heart', continued to chart success with 'Holding Out for a Hero', which was featured on the soundtrack of 'Footloose' in 1984. She later re-recorded her hit 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' in French, which also hit No. 1 in France in 2004.
Away from the recording studio, Tyler remained a busy touring artist, singing all over the world with such stars as Meat Loaf and even performing at Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones’s wedding. She was also a successful businesswoman in her own right. She is survived by her husband Robert Sullivan.
Iconic songs of veteran singer Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler has left a catalogue of timeless classics that continue to connect with people all over the world. Her biggest hits include Total Eclipse of the Heart (1983), the epic chart-topping ballad that defined her; Holding Out for a Hero (1984), the energetic anthem immortalised by the film Footloose; It's a Heartache (1978), her breakthrough international success; and Lost in France (1976), the song that introduced her remarkable talent to the world. Her powerful voice and unforgettable performances have solidified her legacy as one of music's most iconic rock vocalists.
(By Jitisha Parihar. (She is an intern with India TV Digital.)Also Read: