Bryn Fôn

Bryn Fôn (born 27 August 1954) is a Welsh actor and singer-songwriter.[1] He also became the first ever artist to play live on BBC Radio Cymru in 1977[2]

Bryn Fôn
Fôn in September 2010
Born (1954-08-27) 27 August 1954
NationalityWelsh
EducationYsgol Gynradd Llanllyfni
Ysgol Uwchradd Dyffryn Nantlle
OccupationActor, singer, songwriter
Years active1977–present
EmployerS4C
Spouse(s)
Anna Wynne-Williams (m. 2012)
Children2

Biography

Bryn Fôn was born in Llanllyfni, Caernarfonshire.[1] He attended Ysgol Gynradd Llanllyfni and Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle 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.[1] He was voted the hunk of the month in She magazine during the 1980s.[1]

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. 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. At present, he performs with his own band. He is involved with numerous gigs yearly all over Wales, most particularly the Royal Welsh Show and the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

Personal life

A campaign of protest linked to the Welsh language movement began in December 1979, which involved burning down English-owned 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.[3]

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.[4]

Fôn is married with two children.

Bryn Fôn at a Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg protest. Poster reads: "Keep our schools and villages Welsh-language".

Discography

Albums

Band Title Year Record label
Crysbas Draenog Marw / Y Nhw (Wil Bach) 1978 Sain
Crysbas Ond ... Mae 'Di Bwrw 1979 Sain
Sobin a'r Smaeliaid Ta-ta Botha 1989 Sain
Sobin a'r Smaeliaid Sobin a'r Smaeliaid – 1 1990 Sain
Sobin a'r Smaeliaid Caib 1991 Sain
Sobin a'r Smaeliaid A Rhaw 1992 Sain
Bryn Fôn Dyddiau Di-gymar 1994 Crai
Bryn Fôn Dawnsio ar y Dibyn 1998 Crai
Bryn Fôn Caneuon Tecwyn y Tractor 2004 Sain
Bryn Fôn a’r Band Abacus 2004 laBelaBel
Sobin a'r Smaeliaid Goreuon Sobin 2005 Sain
Bryn Fôn a’r Band CAM 2005 laBelaBel
Bryn Fôn a’r Band Toca 2008 laBelaBel
Bryn Fôn a’r Band Y Goreuon 1994–2005 2009 Sain
Bryn Fôn a’r Band Ynys 2014 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 Kill (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 Caled
  • Tipyn o Stad
  • Yma i Aros
  • Ista'nbwl (2010)
  • Gwaith/Cartref as Mr Brynmor Davies a Temporary Teacher drafted in to teach Maths.
  • 2015/6 Anita as Bedwyr, boyfriend of Anita (played by Caryl Parry Jones)
  • Pobol y Cwm (2017–2018) as Dr Elgan Pritchard.
  • Craith / Hidden as Hefin Mathews (2019)

References

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