David Alexander (singer)
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David Alexander (died 4 February 1995) was a Welsh singer and entertainer.
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[edit] Early years
Born in Blackwood, Monmouthshire, Alexander left Bedwellty Grammar School at the age of sixteen to support his family. He joined his father and eldest brother in the mines at Oakdale Colliery, Gwent. In the years after this, he qualified as a machine engineer.
It was at the factory in Cwmbran where he worked that he joined the Trenewydd Singers and enjoyed for the first time the applause of the many people that they entertained for various charities.
[edit] Career
Alexander soon began putting together an act for himself. He made his debut at a local social club and left the brake factory where he worked and toured much of the United Kingdom, also working as an entertainer at Pontins.
Whilst at Pontins, he was spotted by manager Byron Godfrey and in 1971 released his first single If I Could See The Rhondda One More Time. It sold thousands of copies.
Come Home Rhondda Boy was the follow-up record that gave Alexander an international presence in song festivals in Czechoslovakia, Malta and Germany, amongst other countries. In 1989, he also toured Australia.
In the following years, he released several albums under various labels.
[edit] Later years
In 1991, Alexander settled in Tenerife with Penny Page, whom he had met in 1976 and married in 1981. Alexander enjoyed golf and often sang in bars and clubs in and around Tenerife.
[edit] Health problems and death
In November 1991, there were fears that Alexander's singing career was over when he was diagnosed with polyps (growths) in his throat. After surgery and a month of intensive therapy, he recovered.
In November 1994, Alexander was rushed into hospital and diagnosed with cardiomegaly (an enlarged heart). He was advised by doctors to limit his workload. On the morning of 4 February 1995, he suffered a heart attack and died. He had made his will a few days earlier on the 23 January 1995.
