Morus Elfryn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Morus Elfryn
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Elfryn in 1975
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| Background information | |
| Died | 22 March 2022 (aged 73) |
| Genres | Welsh folk music |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
Morus Elfryn (born around 1948 – died March 22, 2022) was a talented Welsh musician, a manager for TV shows, and a carpenter. He was known for his unique singing style. Morus Elfryn recorded music for the Welsh-language record company Sain in the 1970s. Later, he helped create popular shows for S4C, a Welsh TV channel, including the famous comedy C'mon Midffîld!.
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Morus Elfryn's Journey: Music and TV Work
Morus Elfryn grew up in a place called Pontsiân in Ceredigion, Wales. When he was a teenager, he started playing music. He was part of a folk music group called Y Cwiltiaid. A folk trio means a group with three musicians. They released three small music collections, called EPs, between 1967 and 1970.
Early Music Career: Bands and Solo Work
In the early 1970s, Morus Elfryn joined a band called Y Dyniadon Ynfyd Hirfelyn Tesog. This was a band that sang funny, satirical songs. After this group broke up, Morus Elfryn formed a duo with his friend Gareth "Nerw" Hughes Jones. A duo is a group with two musicians. They called themselves Morus Elfryn a Nerw.
In 1974, this duo released their own EP called Heibio'r Af with the Sain company. Morus Elfryn also released his only solo album, I Mehefin (Lle Bynnag y Mae), in 1975. Some songs from this album were later featured on special music collections called Welsh Rare Beat (2005) and Welsh Rare Beat 2 (2007). These collections were put together by famous DJs and musicians.
The musician Gruff Rhys once said that Morus Elfryn's songs were like stories. They created a special mood, similar to the music of other well-known singers like Scott Walker and Jacques Brel.
Moving to Television: Behind the Scenes
Morus Elfryn stopped performing live music in 1985. He then started a new career working in television. From the 1980s, he was a production manager for a company called Ffilmiau'r Nant. This meant he helped manage how TV shows were made.
He worked on many shows for S4C. These included the very popular comedy show C'mon Midffîld! and another show called Pengelli. Later, he also worked on the Welsh soap opera Rownd a Rownd. Another famous Welsh singer, Dafydd Iwan, described Morus Elfryn as "Mr Fixer in the television world." This means he was very good at solving problems and making things happen behind the scenes.
Later Life and Legacy
In his later years, Morus Elfryn moved to Waunfawr, a village near Caernarfon. He was also a skilled carpenter by trade. After retiring from television, he went back to his carpentry work. He enjoyed making and selling furniture.
In 2015, Morus Elfryn performed live again with Gareth "Nerw" Hughes Jones. This was his first live performance in 30 years!
Morus Elfryn passed away on March 22, 2022, at Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital. He was 73 years old. In 2023, his son, Dei, held an auction to remember his father. He sold a special quilt made from beer towels from the C'mon Midffîld! TV show. The money raised went to a charity that helps people with cancer.
