David Rupert Edwards (3 September 1964 – 20 June 2021) was a Welsh musician, singer and writer, best known as the lead singer of the

Welsh language Welsh ( or ) is a Celtic language of the Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people. Welsh is spoken natively in Wales, by some in England, and in Y Wladfa (the Welsh colony in Chubut Province, Argentina). Historically, it has ...

post-punk/experimental band

Datblygu Datblygu ( meaning "develop" or "developing") were a Welsh experimental rock group formed in 1982. They are regarded as a catalyst of the new wave of Welsh rock in the early 1980s. History The band was formed by vocalist David R. Edwards and ...

. ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...

'' said that "his contribution to the Welsh language can't be overestimated and his work with Datblygu serves as a focal point for its vibrant counter-culture". Additionally, John Peel said that Edwards' lyrics made him want to learn Welsh.

Early life

Edwards was born in Cardigan, Ceredigion, and the band was formed at Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi/Cardigan Secondary School in 1982.

Career

As well as Datblygu, Edwards worked with Tŷ Gwydr and pioneering electronic act

Llwybr Llaethog Llwybr Llaethog (Welsh for Milky Way, although the Milky Way has several names in Welsh folklore) are an experimental Welsh language band that effectively mix such varied musical genres as rap, dub, reggae, hip hop, and punk in their music. ...

on ''L.L. v T.G. MC DRE'' (1992), around which time he took up work as a secondary school teacher. Health problems and alcoholism forced Datblygu into retirement after releasing the ''Putsch'' double A single in 1995. Edwards has since been largely ignored by mainstream Welsh media but interest was revived after

Ankstmusik Ankst was a Welsh independent record label formed in 1988 at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth by Alun Llwyd, Gruffudd Jones and Emyr Glyn Williams. After a handful of low key cassette releases, the label relocated to Cardiff and became a ...

re-released 1993's classic ''Libertino'' in a triple disc box set along with the first two studio albums ''Wyau'' and ''Pyst'' in 2004. Datblygu returned to the studio in 2008 to record a one-off 7-inch single entitled "Cân y Mynach Modern". Edwards's autobiography, ''Atgofion Hen Wanc'', was published by

Y Lolfa Y Lolfa (Welsh for ''The Lounge'', ) is a Welsh printing and publishing company based in Tal-y-bont, Ceredigion, in Mid-Wales. It publishes a wide variety of books in Welsh and English. It also provides a commercial print service. Y Lolfa was es ...

in 2009. Datblygu performed occasionally during the 2010s. In 2014, the band released new material and were featured in a documentary, ''Prosiect Datblygu'', made in 2012 and broadcast on S4C to mark the release of the new songs.

Health and death

Edwards's health problems and alcoholism was chronicled in an ''O Flaen dy Lygaid'' documentary, produced by BBC Cymru for S4C. The programme also features his friend, actress Rhian Ree Davies. On 20 June 2021, Edwards died at his home in

Carmarthen Carmarthen (, RP: ; cy, Caerfyrddin , "Merlin's fort" or "Sea-town fort") is the county town of Carmarthenshire and a community in Wales, lying on the River Towy. north of its estuary in Carmarthen Bay. The population was 14,185 in 2011, ...

at the age of 56, having had health issues for several years.David Edwards
/ref>

References

External links

BBC

ankst.net
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, David 1964 births 2021 deaths Welsh male singers Welsh-language singers Welsh-speaking musicians People from Cardigan, Ceredigion