Bonnie Tyler’s surgery aftermath and early recording of “The Best” noted

Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler underwent a laryngeal operation in 1977 to remove nodules on her vocal cords. Doctors warned her to rest her voice, but she continued singing, which caused permanent hoarseness that became a trademark of her sound.

In 1987 Tyler was the first artist to record the song “The Best”. The track, written by Mike Chapman and Holly Knight, had first been offered to Paul Young, who declined. Produced by Desmond Child for Tyler’s album Hide Your Heart, her version was released as the lead single in January 1988, years before Tina Turner popularised the song worldwide. Tyler’s death at age 75 prompted a resurgence of her classic hits, including “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Holding Out for a Hero”.