Bryn Fôn
Encyclopedia
Bryn Fôn is a Welsh
actor and singer-songwriter (born 27 August 1954, Llanllyfni
, Gwynedd
).
before going on to study physical exercise
and environmental
studies at college. He began his career in entertainment by taking part in the opera Dic Penderyn in 1977. He formed the musical group Crysbas after leaving college, and Sobin a'r Smaeliaid in 1988. He began releasing albums with his band under his own name in 1994. He and his band later performed under the name Bryn Fôn a'r Band, releasing music under their own label laBelaBel.
Fôn became the first ever artists to play live on BBC Radio Cymru
in 1977 and was partly responsible for expanding the popularity of Welsh-language pop music amongst Wales' youth.
He was 'hunk of the month' in She magazine during the 1980s.
A campaign of protest linked to the Welsh language movement began in December 1979, which involved burning down holiday homes in Wales. Fôn wrote a song belittling the police's unsuccessful attempts to catch those responsible. In 1990, several detectives visited his home and he was arrested along with his partner, Anna, after they discovered a package hidden in a wall on his cottage's land. He was held at the police station in Dolgellau
for 48 hours before being released without charge. His C'mon Midffild! co-cast member, Mei Jones, was arrested at the same time.
He won the song contest Cân i Gymru
in 1997, with Un Funud Fach.
In his later career, Fôn has concentrated on appearing on stage and also adapted the play Blackbird
for a production by Theatr Bara Caws in which he starred in 2010.
In January 2011, it was announced that Bryn Fôn was one of a hundred people who had refused to pay their TV licences as part of the Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg protests against plans to cut the budget of the Welsh-language TV channel, S4C
, and the plans to transfer control over the channel to the BBC
.
Fôn still lives in the Nantlle valley. He is married with two children.
Bryn Fôn
Bryn Fôn a'r Band
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
actor and singer-songwriter (born 27 August 1954, Llanllyfni
Llanllyfni
Llanllyfni is a small village near Penygroes in Gwynedd, North Wales.It is a largely Welsh speaking close-knit village. About over 85% of the villagers speak Welsh as their first language....
, Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
).
Biography
Fôn attended Ysgol Gynradd Llanllyfni and Ysgol Dyffryn NantlleYsgol Dyffryn Nantlle
Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle is a small bilingual secondary school in Penygroes for pupils aged 11–18. In 2009 there were approximately 530 children enrolled including about 50 pupils in the sixth form...
before going on to study physical exercise
Physical exercise
Physical exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. It is performed for various reasons including strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance, as well as for the purpose of...
and environmental
Environmental science
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences, to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems...
studies at college. He began his career in entertainment by taking part in the opera Dic Penderyn in 1977. He formed the musical group Crysbas after leaving college, and Sobin a'r Smaeliaid in 1988. He began releasing albums with his band under his own name in 1994. He and his band later performed under the name Bryn Fôn a'r Band, releasing music under their own label laBelaBel.
Fôn became the first ever artists to play live on BBC Radio Cymru
BBC Radio Cymru
BBC Radio Cymru is BBC Cymru's Welsh-language radio station, broadcasting throughout Wales from studios in Cardiff, Bangor, and Aberystwyth on FM since 1977. At the time of its launch it was one of the few FM-only radio services in the UK...
in 1977 and was partly responsible for expanding the popularity of Welsh-language pop music amongst Wales' youth.
He was 'hunk of the month' in She magazine during the 1980s.
A campaign of protest linked to the Welsh language movement began in December 1979, which involved burning down holiday homes in Wales. Fôn wrote a song belittling the police's unsuccessful attempts to catch those responsible. In 1990, several detectives visited his home and he was arrested along with his partner, Anna, after they discovered a package hidden in a wall on his cottage's land. He was held at the police station in Dolgellau
Dolgellau
Dolgellau is a market town in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, lying on the River Wnion, a tributary of the River Mawddach. It was the county town of the former county of Merionethshire .-History and economy:...
for 48 hours before being released without charge. His C'mon Midffild! co-cast member, Mei Jones, was arrested at the same time.
He won the song contest Cân i Gymru
Cân i Gymru
Cân i Gymru is a Welsh television show broadcast on S4C annually. It was first introduced 42 years ago when BBC Cymru wanted to enter the Eurovision Song Contest. It usually takes place at Afan Lido in Port Talbot. It has taken place every year except 1973...
in 1997, with Un Funud Fach.
In his later career, Fôn has concentrated on appearing on stage and also adapted the play Blackbird
Blackbird (play)
Blackbird is a one-act, ninety-minute play written in 2005 by Scottish playwright David Harrower. It was inspired in part by the crimes of sex offender Toby Studebaker and depicts a young woman meeting a middle-aged man fifteen years after having a sexual relationship, when she was twelve.-...
for a production by Theatr Bara Caws in which he starred in 2010.
In January 2011, it was announced that Bryn Fôn was one of a hundred people who had refused to pay their TV licences as part of the Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg protests against plans to cut the budget of the Welsh-language TV channel, S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
, and the plans to transfer control over the channel to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
Fôn still lives in the Nantlle valley. He is married with two children.
Discography
Sobin a'r Smaeliaid- Ta-ta Botha, 1989, (SainSainSain , in full – Recordiau Sain Cyf is a Welsh record label, which was in the Welsh folk revival....
) - Sobin a'r Smaeliaid - 1, 1990, (SainSainSain , in full – Recordiau Sain Cyf is a Welsh record label, which was in the Welsh folk revival....
) - Caib, 1991, (SainSainSain , in full – Recordiau Sain Cyf is a Welsh record label, which was in the Welsh folk revival....
) - A Rhaw, 1992, (SainSainSain , in full – Recordiau Sain Cyf is a Welsh record label, which was in the Welsh folk revival....
) - Goreuon Sobin, (SainSainSain , in full – Recordiau Sain Cyf is a Welsh record label, which was in the Welsh folk revival....
)
Bryn Fôn
- Dyddiau Di-gymar, 1994, (CraiCraiCrai is a hamlet in the Brecon Beacons National Park in the county of Powys, south Wales. It gives its name to the community within which are the hamlet of Felin-Crai and a large number of dispersed farms around the valley of the Afon Crai. The river is dammed 2km / 1.5mi southwest of the village...
) - Dawnsio ar y Dibyn, 1998, (CraiCraiCrai is a hamlet in the Brecon Beacons National Park in the county of Powys, south Wales. It gives its name to the community within which are the hamlet of Felin-Crai and a large number of dispersed farms around the valley of the Afon Crai. The river is dammed 2km / 1.5mi southwest of the village...
)
Bryn Fôn a'r Band
- Abacus, 2004, (laBelaBel)
- CAM, 2005, (laBelaBel)
- Toca, 2008, (laBelaBel)
TV and film appearances
- C'mon Midffild! Tecwyn
- 1979 The Corn Is Green (TV movie)
- 1991 Outside Time (TV series) Manawydanin Alternative Heroes and The Making of Arthur
- 2001–2002 'Yr Heliwr/A Mind to KillA Mind to KillA Mind to Kill is a police detective series developed from a 1991 pilot. The programme ran from 1994 to 2004 and aired first on S4C .-Synopsis:...
(TV series filmed in both Welsh and English) DC Meic Challis in episodes The Inner Life of Strangers (2001), Blood and Water (2002) and The Little House in the Forest (2002) - Talcen Called
- Tipyn o Stad
- Yma i Aros
- Ista'nbwl (2010)