This Friday night, we will be welcoming Dr Rhian Davies, Artistic Director of the Gregynog Festival and Simon Crawford-Phillips, accomplished pianist to the Drwm. They will present an evening to celebrate the music and life of one of the most internationally successful, but least known musicians ever to be produced by Wales, the blind composer-pianist, Alec Templeton (1909-63).
Although Alec Templeton was born near Cardiff, he moved to the US during the 1930s, and made a name for himself, and was soon given his own show It’s Alec Templeton Time! and became a household name. In later life, he broadened his career to compose for Broadway and the movie industry and is honoured with a personal star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The show, which will be narrated by Rhian Davies, will comprise of examples of Templeton’s classical, jazz and blues compositions, and will be played lived by Simon Crawford-Phillips, together with archive recordings of Templeton’s own performances.
We have also recently acquired recordings and film footage of Templeton, and some of this footage will be incorporated in the performance.
Tickets are available for £7 through the Library shop or by calling 01970 632 548.
Tags: Alec Templeton, Dr Rhian Davies, Gregynog, Jazz, Simon Crawford-Phillips
