The Music of Aled Jones

I have long been a fan of the Welsh singer Aled Jones and thought that I would share what little knowledge of his life that I have gleaned from the internet. His boyhood voice was to me like spun crystal - so clear and beautiful. There are also a few videos included for your positive enjoyment.  

Aled Jones was born on the 29^th December 1970 in Wales; UK. Aled is a Welsh singer and a television and radio personality, broadcaster and television presenter (Escape to the Country and Cash in the Attic) who first came to fame as a boy singer with an amazing treble voice. He is notable for presenting Songs of Praise on BBC 1, BBC Radio 2.and The Choir on BBC Radio 3.

Currently Aled is mentoring one of the youngest classical recording artists “Isobel Suckling” who is one of the first choirgirls to sign a record contract with a major music label. He endorsed her debut album, and described it as "breathtaking" This recording was released on 29 November 2010.

Aled Jones was born in Bangor, Wales, at St. David's Hospital. He is an only child – son of a teacher Nest Rowland’s, and Derek John Jones, a shipbuilder’s draughtsman.  He was raised in Anglesey, part of the small Welsh-speaking community of Llandegfan and he attended Ysgol David Hughes. Jones at the age of nine joined the choir of Bangor Cathedral and within two years was lead soloist although he never achieved the position of Head Chorister. The remarkable clarity of his treble voice was so appreciated by Hefina Orwig Evans who was a member of the Bangor Cathedral congregation that she wrote a letter to Sain the local record company where he was duly signed.

Aled won the Cerdd Danty in 1982 for his solo in competition for competitors under the age of 12 at the Urdd Eisteddfod.

Aled Jones went on to become famous for his singing of the cover version of "Walking in the Air”, the song was recorded for the animated television film “The Snowman” which was based on the book by Raymond Briggs.  In 1985 this record reached No. 5 in the UK charts. Although in the end Aled Jones did not perform the version used in the film as Peter Auty, a St Pauls choirboy, was chosen to sing this song.  In 1985 Aled Jones with the National Philharmonic Orchestra, was the singer behind Santa Claus The Movie, an original motion picture soundtrack.

In June 1985, Jones was the subject of the Emmy award winning BBC Omnibus documentary "The Treble"

However his recording career came to a temporary halt when his voice broke at sixteen. By this time he had recorded some sixteen albums, sold more than six million albums, and sung for such celebrated people as Pope John Paul 11, the Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales at private recitals. These concerts were in conjunction with his presenting of many children's television programmes. In 1986 he sang at the wedding of Bob Geldof and Paula Yates. He also had the distinction of being the first artist to have two classical albums listed at the same time in the popular music charts. He has worked with Mike Oldfield and Leonard Bernstein. In 1986 he sang with Emma Kirkby the oratorio Athalia. Aled Jones has had his first biography “Walking on Air", published in 1986

Jones then studied at the Royal Academy of Music and at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. These studies came about before he began his adult recording career, a career which included a largely religious, inspirational repertoire. He took the leading role in the Andrew Lloyd Webber Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dream coat which played out on a Blackpool pier in 1995.

Jones has recorded twenty-four albums, many of which reached gold or platinum status in both UK and in Australia, where he performs as a lyric baritone although he has at times talked about performing as a tenor.  

After Jones’s appearance as a contestant in 2004 on Strictly Come Dancing brought he into the limelight once again and attention was gained from a wider audience which led to him undertaking further tours and the making of new albums; this has also led to increasing demands being made on him to act as a broadcaster.

Aled Jones was a presenter on radio and also on television; he joined the BBC in 2006, taking over Good Morning Sunday on BBC Radio 2 and The Choir on BBC Radio 3.  He is also a presenter of Friday Night is Music Night, and has also been a regular stand-in presenter for personalities on Radio 2. Jones also presents other programmes for BBC radio such as "Choir of the Year" and "Young Chorister of the Year".

In 2005 he launched his autobiography, which was written in collaboration with Darren Henley.

He has since successfully toured in Australia four times: December 2003, August 2006, October 2008 and August to September 2010 and preformed in eight cities. His first visit came after the launch of his first baritone album, Aled which has come out on the Universal Music label. Jones released two singles to aid the “Children in Need” Appeal. These singles were made in conjunction with Terry Wigan

Jones played the lead role in Chitty Bang Bang performing from 3 July until 30 August 2008 at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff. Playing Bob Wallace in White Christmas he returned to the stage at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth and at The Lowry Salford Quays. This time his performance went from November 2009 until 9 January 2010.

After the publication of Aled's Forty Favourite Hymns in 2009, a further book followed called Favourite Christmas Carols whichwas published on 28 October 2010; Jones took his new book on his UK tour in November and December 2010. On 29 November, his CD Aled's Christmas Gift was issued as an accompaniment to the new book.

On 11 October 2010, Jones took over as stand-in presenter of the early morning breakfast slot on BBC Radio 2 after the departure of Sarah Kennedy – this role he had covered on an occasional basis in the past but this time he covered this slot for six weeks until it was time for him to start his UK tour.

End Note  Aled met his now wife, Claire Cosset; and the couple married in 2001.They live in London with their two children, Emilia, born 23 February 2002 and Lucas, born 4 April 2005.