This year, I will be celebrating the Centenary birthday of actor Richard Burton with performances of my tribute song Mr. J (Jenkins) in Swansea, Port Talbot & other venues in South Wales.
My family and I have many connections to the actor and I also had the good fortune to play his piano back in 1995 which inspired me to create material for the occasion.
My original poem is being published in a book called ‘Poems For Rich’ and I am performing the song I wrote to follow – (and that I sent to none other than Elizabeth Taylor, and for which she returned a little note and signed photo) at the book launch, Dylan Thomas Theatre Swansea August 1st, at Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre pub Walthamstow Nov. 8th and in Port Talbot at Taibach Rugby Club on the actual birth date Nov. 10th. (see the events page for more details).
“Mr. J” is in the final of “The King of Pontrydyfen” poetry competition. There is an event for all the poetry competition finalists on July 8th at Blanco’s, Port Talbot, South Wales, but I am unable to attend that one as I’ll be away on my USA tour!
The book launch event, August 1st at the Dylan Thomas Theatre Swansea starts at 5pm and it’s a free event organised by Karen Struel-White productions for ‘Centenary Poems’, her inclusive poetry initiative.
Profits from the book sale will be donated to charity. The book cover is to be a painting by Taibach based artist Bert Evans, suggested by Burton biographer Professor Angela John (advisor on the recent ‘Mr Burton’ movie starring Toby Jones).
I have written 4 songs influenced by my early childhood memories in Treherbert, South Wales.
My musical style is varied as I was influenced by my jazz pianist father who studied Maths at Cardiff university, my opera singing mother who studied at the Royal Welsh college of music and drama and uncles who all sang in Welsh male voice choirs like Pendyrus and Treorchy.
There is an article about the song “Mr. J” and my songwriting background, coming out soon in South Wales magazine and also a radio interview, Radio City Swansea June 5th.
I have a live recording (mp3) of the song and I am recording a studio version in Nashville Tennessee in July, which will be released on Nov 10th this year
Live recording – “Mr. Jenkins”:
During a visit to see family in Wales back in 1995, I decided to try and find Richard Burton’s grave in the graveyard at Pontrydyfen. I was approached by a gardener and in conversation he told me that Burton was buried in Switzerland but his sister Hilda lived nearby and he gave me her address! I was excited to go and visit Hilda and her husband Wilfred. She signed and gave me the biography by Melvyn Bragg! She made tea, lava bread and Welsh cakes for me and told me many wonderful stories about her brother and Elizabeth Taylor and how kind and generous they were to all their family.