| Geraint Jarman | |
| Origin: | Cardiff, Wales |
| Genre: | Folk, post punk, reggae, rock, ska |
| Occupation: | Musician, poet, television producer |
| Years Active: | 1967–present |
| Label: | Sain, ankstmusic |
| Associated Acts: | Geraint Jarman a'r Cyngangeddwyr |
Geraint Jarman (born 1950 in Denbigh) is a Welsh musician, poet and television producer whose career dates back to the early years of Welsh popular music. He has recorded many albums as a solo artist and with his band Geraint Jarman a'r Cynganeddwyr.
Jarman grew up in Cardiff and his career began in the 1960s as a poet and composer, writing for .[1] He was a member of with Jones and Meic Stevens before establishing himself as a solo artist. He also wrote "Y Brawd Houdini", one of Stevens' most popular recordings. He introduced genres such as reggae into Welsh music and released many albums as a solo artist and with his band as Geraint Jarman a'r Cynganneddwyr (Geraint Jarman and the Poets, referring to the Welsh: [[cynghanedd]] techniques of formal Welsh poetry), his first album (Gobaith Mawr y Ganrif) released in 1976 by Sain.[2] In the late 1970s he was championed by John Peel who introduced him to a wider audience through his BBC Radio 1 show.
Gruff Rhys, in the liner notes of the Welsh Rare Beat album, paid tribute to Jarman's influence, stating "Jarman helped to sever ties with Celtic folk and serve as a bridge to a new wave of post punk/post Sain Welsh language artists in the 1980s and beyond who had a less self-conscious relationship with their Welsh identity."[3] The BBC described him as the "father of Welsh rock".[4]
Jarman co-produced the S4C television show Fideo 9, which gave important exposure to a later generation of Welsh bands.[5] He has also had several volumes of poetry published, including Cerbyd Cydwybod (2012, Gomer Press).
Jarman is married to actress Nia Caron, with whom he has two daughters, Hanna and Mared; Mared, the couple's youngest daughter, is an actress living with Stargardt disease.[6] Jarman also has a daughter, Lisa, from his first marriage to Heather Jones.[7]
His autobiography, Twrw Jarman, was published in 2011.