Dave Edmunds
Singer, guitarist and record producer
David William Edmunds was born on 15 April 1944 in Cardiff, Wales, and grew up steeped in music, forming a rock 'n' roll piano duo with his older brother Geoff as a boy. He cut his teeth in Cardiff bands through the 1960s, most notably the blues-rock trio Love Sculpture, whose frantic instrumental take on Khachaturian's "Sabre Dance" became an unlikely UK hit in 1968 and showcased Edmunds's already formidable guitar technique.
As a solo artist Edmunds became one of the defining figures of British rock 'n' roll revivalism. His 1970 single "I Hear You Knocking", recorded almost entirely by Edmunds himself in his own studio, topped the UK charts for six weeks and sold more than three million copies worldwide, launching a career built on a deep love of 1950s rock and rockabilly. His 1972 debut album Rockpile cemented that sound and gave its name to the band he later co-fronted with Nick Lowe.
Beyond his own recordings, Edmunds became one of Britain's most respected record producers, working with acts including the Stray Cats, the Fabulous Thunderbirds and Status Quo, and producing the soundtrack to the cult film Twenty Four Hours in London. Rooted throughout his career in the sound of classic American rock 'n' roll, Edmunds remains one of Cardiff's most influential musical exports.