Shirley Bassey

Shirley Bassey

Date of Birth:

Jan 08, 1937

Place of Birth:

Butetown, Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales, UK

Shirley Bassey is a Welsh singer known for both her powerful operatic voice and for recording the theme songs to the James Bond films 'Goldfinger' (1964); 'Diamonds Are Forever' (1971) and 'Moonraker' (1979).

Born on Bute Street in Butetown (also known as 'Tiger Bay') in the docklands area of Cardiff, she was was the sixth and youngest child of Henry Bassey, from Nigeria, and Eliza Jane Start,  from the north-east of England, but  grew up in the adjacent community of Splott.

After leaving Splott Secondary Modern School at the age of 14, Bassey found work at the local Curran Steels factory, while singing in public houses and clubs in the evenings and on weekends. In 1953, she signed her first professional contract and went on to  work for the impresario Jack Hylton. She recorded her first single in 1956.

filmography:

Shirley Bassey: A Special Lady Shirley Bassey: A Special Lady

1980

More Dangerous Songs: And the Banned Played On More Dangerous Songs: And the Banned Played On

2014

The Bing Crosby Show The Bing Crosby Show

1961

David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey

2016

Shirley Bassey - You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet Shirley Bassey - You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet

1985

Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall

2009

The Bond Sound: The Music of 007 The Bond Sound: The Music of 007

2000

An Audience with Des O'Connor An Audience with Des O'Connor

2001

I Can't Give You Anything But Love: The Jimmy McHugh Story I Can't Give You Anything But Love: The Jimmy McHugh Story

2024

The Diamond Jubilee Concert 2012 The Diamond Jubilee Concert 2012

2012

The World of James Bond The World of James Bond

1995

…Sings Musicals …Sings Musicals

2012

…Sings Neil Diamond …Sings Neil Diamond

2010

The Art of Dissent The Art of Dissent

2021

An Audience with Shirley Bassey An Audience with Shirley Bassey

1995

Shirley Bassey: Divas Are Forever Shirley Bassey: Divas Are Forever

2000

St David's Day at the BBC St David's Day at the BBC

2021

La Passione La Passione

1996

Dame Shirley Bassey: BBC Electric Proms Dame Shirley Bassey: BBC Electric Proms

2009

The Sound of 007 The Sound of 007

2022

Another Audience with Shirley Bassey Another Audience with Shirley Bassey

2006

Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes

2011

Everything or Nothing Everything or Nothing

2012

The Sound of 007: Live from the Royal Albert Hall The Sound of 007: Live from the Royal Albert Hall

2022

Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace

2002

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