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AmeriCymru:- Hi Iris and many thanks for agreeing to be interviewed by AmeriCymru. You were raised in Pontypridd. What are your fondest memories of your home town?

Iris: My fondest memories of Tonyrefail, which is actually where I was brought up (Pontypridd is where I was born) were my school days, my weekly piano lessons with Mrs. Iris Llewellyn, (who coached me for my scholarship into the RWCMD) and youth club.

I also loved my Friday night visit to the local Fish and chip shop!! I add that I loved visiting Pontypridd market days and little did I know at the time that my biological family were right there.

AmeriCymru:- When did you first become aware of your musical talent and your voice? When was your first live performance?

Iris: I always loved music from very first time I was introduced to it by my foster mother Bronwen Llewellyn. (No relation to the my music teacher Iris, just a coincidence) Bronwen was a musician, she played the piano which was situated in the best room as they used to call it in those days. Bronwen would play popular tunes and I automatically sang along, having learned them from hearing them a few times. It was she who then encouraged me to sing more, and entered me into my very first local talent contest, for which I won £7. That got me hooked, and furthered my growing appetite for a singing career.

AmeriCymru:- Your biggest UK hit came in 1979 with ''He Was Beautiful'', a song based on the theme to Michael Cimino''s hugely successful and widely acclaimed movie ''The Deer Hunter''. How did you come to record this track and what role did it play in your career?

Iris: My recording of this song was purely accidental!!

My manager at the time suggested I do a session with the Birmingham BBC radio orchestra on my way to the Isle Of Man where I was engaged to perform in a summer season. I chose five songs from the BBC''s music library which were in my voice range, one of which was "HE WAS BEAUTIFUL" and the songs from the session were played on a weekend Saturday morning radio programme, hosted by David Jacobs .

When the songs aired one Saturday morning the station was bombarded with mail requesting the recording of "HE WAS BEAUTIFUL". The recording producer for EMI (Wally Ridley who was responsible for many of Vera Lynne''s recordings plus many more) was in his garden that morning, and his wife called him inside to listen to my rendition of the song. Mr. Ridley made inquiries as to where he could contact me, which he did, and asked me to fly over from the Isle of Man to the EMI recording studios in London to make a professional recording of the song. This was all very exiting and dramatic for me.

I did the recording in one session with a live orchestra, left, returned to the Isle Of Man that same day and thought little of it. Then I heard it played on radio 2 some weeks later on the Jimmy Young Show whilst driving to some place and almost crashed the car. It was then followed up with many air plays especially by Terry Wogan.

That of course was the beginning of a a wonderful career which led to many more recordings, TV series, guest appearances, and many Royal command performances for HMS The Queen, the late Princess Margaret, Princess Anne, the late Queen mother Prince Charles and so on.

AmeriCymru:- You have performed with, amongst others, Bob Hope and Rosemary Clooney. Any memories of these performers ( or others ) that you care to share with our readers?

Iris: My first meeting with Bob Hope, was indeed memorable. It was at President Ford''s Golf Celebrity Royal charity performance held at the London Dorchester hotel. Bob Hope, was the master of ceremonies, and personally introduced me to the stage. He was warm, charming and very kind.

I was to work with Bob Hope again from 1988 to1996 every summer at President Fords Celebrity golf tournament held in Vail Colorado.

I first met Rosemary Clooney at her benefit concert in California in memory of her sister. I was invited to sing at the benefit via my American manager, Mary Ellyn Devery, a friend of Rosemary''s, who asked if I could sing one song at this benefit as an introduction to the American audiences. Rosemary, being a very generous artiste, readily obliged.

Ms. Devery was responsible for bringing the Bolshoi Ballet to America, and the Children of the Bolshoi Academy to Vail Colorado every summer at the request of Mrs. Betty Ford. Ms. Devery was also a successful Broadway producer.

I was among many big stars that night including Harry Connick Jr, Lucy Arnez, (Lucille Ball''s daughter) and Carroll Bennett.

Rosemary became a friend and mentor, and introduced me to the New York music scene, which led to such engagements as the famed Oak room at the Algonquin hotel. Tony Bennett is also among the many stars I have been connected with here in New York.

On the UK side I have worked with Des O Conner, Jimmy Tarbuck, Ted Rogers, Sir Harry Secombe,Sir Jimmy Saville, Cannon and Ball and many others.

AmeriCymru:- Last year you performed a concert to raise money for the Rhydyfelin credit union in South Wales. Care to tell us a little more about your involvement with that organisation and other South Wales charities?

Iris: I opened the first Credit union in the late 80''s with a charity concert and have supported it ever since. I enjoy doing charities in my home country. There are too many to mention, but here are just a few. Children in Need, (which is a major charity close to my heart), The Falklands anniversary charity concert, TY Hafen ,The children''s hospital, Lord George Thomas hospice, etc etc... As an artiste, I feel a certain responsibility to use my birth given talent to help others.

AmeriCymru:- Is there any particular recording/performance or achievement of which you are most proud? What , for you, has been the highlight of your career so far?

Iris: "HE WAS BEAUTIFUL" will always remain my first pride, love,and Joy, and is included in every one of my performances.

The highlight of my career, I have to say, was receiving the OBE from HMS Queen Elizabeth the Second personally in 2004 for services to music and charity.

AmeriCymru:- Where can people go to hear and purchase your music online?

Iris: To my website, iriswilliams.com . I believe they are also available on Amazon and on many Google sites.

AmeriCymru:- What''s next for Iris Williams?

Iris: I would hope a lot more to come, as I have no intentions of slowing down. I enjoy performing anywhere and everywhere. I am in the first stages of writing an autobiography, or memoirs. I particularly enjoy entertaining on cruise liners where I meet a lot of Welsh passengers who give me HIREATH for Wales.

I am scheduled to perform as a special guest at Scranton Pennsylvania this coming August at their Annual North American Festival of Wales. I add this quote:- "This gala evening is co-sponsored by the Welsh North American Foundation and the Welsh North American Association will honor the 2012 recipient of the NWAF Heritage Medallion, Beth Landmesser. Entertainment following dinner and presentation will be by singer, Iris Williams, OBE."

AmeriCymru:- Any final message for our readers and NAFOW attendees?

Iris: I wish you all continued success with the your projects. I believe that bringing and sharing Wales with North America is truly wonderful.

Pob bendith.