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Hopkin was born in Pontardawe , Wales , into a Welsh -speaking family; her father worked as a housing officer. She took weekly singing lessons as a child and began her musical career as a folk singer with a local group called the Selby Set and Mary. She released an EP of Welsh-language songs for a local record label called Cambrian, based in her home town, before signing to Apple Records , owned by the Beatles , one of the first artists to do so. Despite competition from well-established star Sandie Shaw , whose single was also released that year, Hopkin's version became a number 1 hit on the UK Singles Chart. Global sales topped 8,,