Pontypool Only Boys Aloud singer to raise cash for dyslexia cause (From South Wales Argus)
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Pontypool Only Boys Aloud singer to raise cash for dyslexia cause
3:10pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in News
FUNDRAISING PLANS: Conductor Tim Rhys-Evans and Only Boys Aloud, with whom Russell Jones sings
A PONTYPOOL singer is raising money for a dyslexia charity, as he lives with the learning disability.
Russell Jones, 20, said singing brought him a new lease of life.
Two years ago, Mr Jones joined Only Boys Aloud and discovered a hidden singing talent. It has led to him performing at the National Eisteddfod opening ceremony in Ebbw Vale, featuring in the Ryder Cup’s Welcome to Wales concert at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, and singing in front of Simon Cowell on Britain’s Got Talent.
Mr Jones, whose dyslexia was picked up at school, said: “I think having dyslexia has made me more determined than ever to succeed. I didn’t do music at school, it was more of a hobby, but once I discovered it I was hooked.”
Mr Jones did musical theatre at Cross Keys college and music at Newport's University.
He performed his first fundraising event for Dyslexia Action in December in T K Maxx, Cwmbran, raising £35, and aims to raise more in coming months.
His inspiration to join the choir came from his father, also called Russell, who was a lawyer by day and musician by night. He died in 2009 from cancer.
Since then Mr Jones has vowed to carve a successful career out of performing.
