Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler has died at age 75 after a period of ill health. Funeral arrangements have been announced that will include a public viewing at her Mumbles home, with fans invited to line the streets to pay their respects as her coffin is brought to the residence.
Tyler became internationally known for her distinctive raspy voice and powerful ballads. She achieved worldwide success with hits including "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding Out for a Hero," which became defining songs of the 1980s. Her career spanned several decades, during which she sold millions of records globally and earned recognition as one of Wales's most successful musical exports.
Tyler's most famous song, "Total Eclipse of the Heart," was released in 1983. Written by Jim Steinman, the songwriter behind Meat Loaf's hits, the track became a global phenomenon. A gothic music video directed by Russell Mulcahy and filmed at Holloway Sanatorium in Surrey helped propel the song to number one in 10 countries and achieved 6 million sales worldwide. The video exceeded a billion views on YouTube by 2023. Tyler recalled that the song reached the top of Apple Music charts again following the North American total solar eclipse in April 2024. She said in an interview: "I can't tell you how many people have told me they had their first dance to this song, they fell in love to this song. I never get tired of it."
Born Gaynor Hopkins in Skewen near Swansea, Tyler grew up in a musical family. Her mother was known locally for her beautiful singing voice, and her father, despite being unable to work due to tuberculosis, supported her musical interests by purchasing a tape machine. Tyler herself survived tuberculosis as a child, discovered at age 12 after scarring appeared on her lungs.
After forming a group called Imagination in the 1970s, Tyler was spotted singing in a Swansea nightclub and signed to RCA in 1976. She had early chart success with "Lost in France" and "It's a Heartache" before her career dipped. When signing to CBS in 1981, she requested to work with Jim Steinman. After hearing new demos in a rockier style, Steinman agreed to collaborate, noting she had an "80s voice that hadn't been exploited." Tyler's distinctive huskiness resulted from incomplete recovery after a 1977 throat operation, worsened by a scream during recovery that delayed healing.
Beyond her signature ballads, Tyler's songwriting talent was recognized when other artists achieved success with her tracks, including Tina Turner's "The Best" and Cher's "Save Up All Your Tears." She turned down the 1983 James Bond theme "Never Say Never Again," later explaining she simply did not like the song.
The announcement of funeral arrangements reflects Tyler's deep connection to her hometown of Mumbles in South Wales, allowing supporters to acknowledge her substantial impact on popular music.