Geraint Griffiths

Geraint Griffiths (born 1949) is a Welsh singer songwriter and actor. He has worked mainly in the Welsh language. He was born in Pontrhydyfen, in the Afan Valley, Wales. He attended Pontrhydyfen Primary school and then moved across to Ysgol Gymraeg Pontrhydyfen when it opened. In 1960 he attended Glan Afan Grammar Technical School in Port Talbot. In 1966 he left to study nursing at The Prince of Wales Orthopaedic Hospital at Rhydlafar near Cardiff. Then at the West Wales General Hospital at Glangwili in Carmarthen and Saint George's Hospital in London. He started his recording career as a session musician with Welsh language bands Hergest and Edward H Dafis. In 1976 he returned to Wales to join the short lived Injaroc leaving one album "Halen Y Ddaear". In 1978 he formed the Welsh language rock band Eliffant. The band recorded two albums on the Sain label and a single on the bands own label, Llef. In 1985 he started his professional career with his own six part television series on S4C, "Nol Ar Y Stryd" (Back On The Street).He released several albums of his compositions on the Sain label as a solo artist.

Recordings

* "M.O.M." (1979) with the band Eliffant.
* "Gwin Y Gwan" (1980) with the band Eliffant.
* "Madras" (1984)
* "Rebel" (1986)
* "Ararat" (1988)
* "Blynyddoedd Sain 1977-1988" (1997) Compilation.
* "Eliffant" (2001) Compilation.
* "Cadw'r Ffydd" (2003) Compilation.He recorded the Welsh language rock version of Handel's "Messiah" - "Teilwng Yw'r Oen" in 1984.

He founded his own record label, Diwedd Y Gwt, in 1992. He has released several albums on this label.

* "Donegal" (1992)
* "Hewl" (1999)
* "Glastir" (2001)
* "Miya-Jima" (2005)
* "Clwb Dydd Sadwrn" (2007)
* "Havana" (2007)

Films

* "Y Cloc" (1986) Endaf Emlyn
* "Ffair Roc" (1986) Richard Powelko
* "Fel Dail Ar Bren" (1987) David Lyn
* "Derfydd Aur" (1989) Paul Turner
* "Nel" (1990) Richard Lewis
* "Sant Mewn Storm" (1994)
* "The Proposition" (1996) Strathford Hamilton
* "Dirgelwch Yr Ogof" (2002) Endaf Emlyn

References

*November 16 2005 [http://www.bbc.co.uk/cymru/deorllewin/enwogion/cantorion/pages/geraint_griffiths.shtml BBC profile - Welsh language]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/welsh/hi/newsid_4430000/newsid_4439800/4439886.stm BBC article - Welsh language]

Bibliography

*Geraint Davies & John Davies: "HEWL: STORI GERAINT GRIFFITHS", Gomer, ISBN 1 84323 604 4, 2005

External links

* [http://www.geraintgriffiths.com/engbio.html Biography on Official Web Site]
* [http://www.sainwales.com/sain/..%2fsain%2fproduct.aspx?productuid=213351&clickproductonpage=/sain/searchresults.aspx?categoryid= Biography the Sain Recording Company web site]
* [http://www.geraintgriffiths.com Official site]
* [http://www.geraintgriffiths.com/enginjaroc.htm The Injaroc Story]
* [http://www.geraintgriffiths.com/engeliffstory.htm The Eliffant Story]