Iris Williams

Iris Williams, OBE, is a Welsh singer of mixed-race origin, who reached the peak of her popularity during the 1980s.

Brought up in a children's home, she won a scholarship to the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. In 1979, she had her biggest UK hit, "He Was Beautiful", a song based on the already well-known theme from "The Deerhunter". In Wales, however, she had already had major success, particularly with "Pererin Wyf" (1971) a Welsh-language version of "Amazing Grace". As a result of hitting the national charts, she was given her own BBC series.

In 1991, she performed in cabaret at the prestigious Oak Room in the Algonquin Hotel, New York City.Other engagements in the United States included five concerts with Bob Hope and an appearance with Rosemary Clooney. Iris also carried out several charity performances for President Gerald Ford. She has performed several times at the Royal Variety Performance, and was one of the stars of the gala concert to celebrate the opening of the National Assembly of Wales in 1999).

She was awarded the OBE in the New Year Honours List of 2004. In 2006, she is among the major names booked for the Brecon Jazz Festival, and will be admitted to the Gorsedd of Bards at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.Although she visits Wales regularly, Iris these days lives in New York.