Phyllis Kinney facts for kids

Phyllis Kinney (born July 4, 1922) is an American-born singer, collector, and historian. She is a top expert on Welsh folk music. She studied at the famous Juilliard School and sang as a soprano (a high female voice) with the Carl Rosa Opera Company in the 1940s.

After she met her husband, Meredydd Evans, Phyllis learned a lot about the culture of Wales. Through her writing, research, and singing, Phyllis helped save and share the traditional music of Wales. Her and Meredydd's important collections are now kept at the Welsh Music Archive, which is part of the National Library of Wales.

Early Life and Music

Phyllis Kinney was born in Pontiac, Michigan, USA, on July 4, 1922. This day is also Independence Day in America. After finishing high school, Phyllis went to Michigan State College.

There, she learned music from Gomer Llewelyn Jones. He was a Welshman who had moved to America. Mr. Jones made Phyllis interested in Welsh music. She later said she had "hardly heard of Wales" before meeting him.

By 1942, Phyllis was singing Welsh songs in public. Mr. Jones often played the piano for her. He thought her singing helped people in Michigan understand the Welsh people better. Phyllis finished college in 1943. She then got a special scholarship to study at the Juilliard School in New York City.

Singing Career and Wales

In 1947, Phyllis Kinney became a main singer with the Carl Rosa Opera Company. She toured the United Kingdom with them. During a visit to Bangor, Wales, Phyllis met Meredydd Evans. He was a Welsh folk musician. Meredydd was part of a popular singing group called Triawd y Coleg.

Phyllis learned to speak, read, and write Welsh. She also taught Meredydd about folk music from other parts of the world. Phyllis and Meredydd got married on April 10, 1948. Their daughter, Eluned, was born in 1949.

Like her husband, Phyllis started working for the BBC. They often sang songs together. The Western Mail newspaper said Phyllis sang in "perfect Welsh." They noted she sometimes had a lovely American accent.

In June 1952, the family moved to America. Meredydd went to Princeton University there. In 1960, they moved back to Wales and made it their home. Phyllis and Meredydd worked together to put together collections of Welsh songs. These books became very important for understanding Welsh national songs.

In 1962, Phyllis sang on Meredydd's album, A Concert of Welsh Songs. She provided operatic vocals. The famous Russian harpist Maria Korchinska also played on the album. Phyllis later said this album, which was Meredydd's first with instruments, was "tradition dressed up to suit the audience."

Later Life and Legacy

In the 1980s, Phyllis and Meredydd settled in Cwmystwyth, Wales. They helped their community and taught Welsh to many of their neighbors. Their home became a popular place for people of all ages to visit. People came from all over Wales and the world to enjoy their company and learn from them.

Their home was close to the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. This allowed them to spend their retirement studying the history of folk songs and tunes. Their research often appeared in Canu Gwerin, a journal about Welsh folk songs.

Phyllis received an honorary music degree from the University of Wales in 1991. She also became an honorary fellow of Bangor University with her husband in 1997. In 2007, the University of Wales published a special book to celebrate their work. This book included essays about Welsh song and traditional music. It honored their big contribution to Welsh culture and language.

In 2011, Phyllis published her book, Welsh Traditional Music. It is a detailed history and study of Welsh music, both with instruments and singing.

Meredydd Evans passed away in 2015 at the age of 95. He and Phyllis had planned to give their collections to the National Library of Wales. These collections are now part of the Welsh Music Archive. In 2019, Phyllis and Meredydd received the Welsh Music Prize Inspiration Award.

Phyllis Kinney turned 100 years old on July 4, 2022. To celebrate her 100th birthday, the National Library hosted an event called Phyllis Kinney: 100. Her daughter Eluned and harpist Elinor Bennett were part of the celebration.