Meredydd Evans *55

Meredydd Evans, a noted Welsh folk singer, dedicated activist for the Welsh language, and a university lecturer in philosophy, died Feb. 21, 2015. He was 95.

Born in Wales, Evans’ interest in Welsh folk tradition became more fully developed at the University College of North Wales, from which he graduated in 1945. He began his career as a solo folk singer, and also performed with a close-harmony trio. They performed regularly on a radio variety-show broadcast in the 1940s on a local BBC station.

Evans married an American, moved to the United States, and earned a Ph.D. in philosophy from Princeton in 1955. Returning to Wales, Evans was a university lecturer in philosophy before he became head of light entertainment at the newly established BBC Wales. Here, from 1963 to 1973, he produced popular folk-music television programs and promoted the careers of many Welsh folk singers.

After leaving the BBC, Evans returned to his academic work and was very active in Welsh language campaigns, including civil disobedience against the British government.

Evans is survived by his wife, Phyllis Kinney, with whom he had collected Welsh folk songs and published three collections; and a daughter. 

Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.