After Dinner Speakers: Max Boyce, Senator George Mitchell, Chaka Khan

Max Boyce is an all round entertainer - a singer, comedian, story teller and poet. He's known for consistently making an audience laugh, and is renowned for his ability to paint pictures with words and song. What do you think of Max and his work? Fill in this pop-up form and we'll put your views on the site. Born and raised in the small town of Glynneath, Max has spent his married life here with his wife and family. The town has provided him with a great deal of inspiration for the material that he has performed on stage. Max's father was a miner who was tragically killed in a pit explosion just days after Max was born. Max himself spent over a decade working in a nearby pit and also studied for a degree in mining engineering. Max began his days on stage as a folk singer, performing at The Valley Folk Club in Pontardawe, recording a handful of songs. This led to interest from EMI and he signed a contract to record a series of live albums of songs and stories. On 23 November 1973 Max recorded 'Live At Treorchy', introducing such songs as 'The Outside Half Factory' and 'Morgan Moon'. Unexpectedly this album went 'gold' and was followed by 'We All Had Doctors' Papers' in 1975, with this second album reaching number one - the first comedy album to do so. He received further gold discs for his 1976 release 'The Incredible Plan' and the 1978 'I Know 'Cos I Was There'. In the spring of 1977, television recognised Max's talents, and the first Max Boyce In Concert programme was produced. This was followed up by numerous chat show appearances and three 'adventure' TV specials. The first of these was 'Max Boyce Meets the Dallas Cowboys' - where he played quarterback for the famous American team. He has also gone on to pen several books which recount his tales of life in South Wales through poems, stories and song. In the late 1990's Max was introduced to a younger audience through a new television series, and he played at the opening of the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff. In 2000 he was awarded the MBE by Prince Charles in a ceremony held at Cardiff Castle. Max continues to be busy, recording a series for BBC Radio Wales in 2003 called 'The Final Curtain'. The show saw invited guests share with Max their fantasy final day on Earth.