Iris Williams dead: Welsh singer who performed in front of queen and had BBC show dies aged 79 as tributes flood in
Iris Williams was born 1946 in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, she tragically passed away today, July 11.
The world famous Welsh singer performed for US president Gerald Ford on several occasions.
Williams was raised in a children's home and with a foster family in Tonyrefai, she was the daughter of an American GI.
Her biggest hits include a Welsh-language version of Amazing Grace.
She appeared on the BBC's hit Welsh pop music programme Disc a Dawn and went on to have her own BBC TV show.
Williams was honoured with an OBE for her contributions to music and sang at the opening of the National Assembly of Wales in 1999.
Williams' brother Ashley told the BBC: "I never met her until we were adults and it was wonderful to meet up with her," he said.
"In my opinion she was one of Wales most underrated singers. She had a tremendous career, it was very hard for her growing up.
"When she came back to Wales she used to come to the house a lot. I always used to say 'where do you want to go?' and she'd always say Tonyrefail.
"She loved the valleys, she had so much support from people in the valleys."
In a post on social media, The St David's Society of the State of New York said Williams had "joined the heavenly chorus where her joyful singing will surely bring those joys beyond measure which we have been honoured to share."
"New York held a special place in her life and it was here that she gave birth to her only child Blake."
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