Welsh Singer Iris Williams Dies Aged 79, Awarded OBE for Music

Welsh singer Iris Williams, known for hits like "He Was Beautiful" and the Welsh-language "Pererin Wyf," has died in the US at the age of 79 or 81, with sources varying on her exact age. A product of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, she gained fame in the 1980s and performed for Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Albert Hall as well as for US President Gerald Ford on multiple occasions. Williams won the Welsh-language talent competition Cân i Gymru in 1974 and took part in the concert celebrating the opening of the National Assembly of Wales in 1999. She was honoured with an OBE in 2004 for her contributions to music and was admitted to the Gorsedd of Bards at the National Eisteddfod in 2006. Tributes highlight her unique jazz style, storytelling ability, and the joy she brought to audiences, with special mention of her ties to New York where she gave birth to her only child, Blake. Her brother and fellow artists also praised her career and impact on Welsh music, emphasizing her status as an underrated and beloved figure.