COUNTRY OF BIRTH

Wales, UK

INDUSTRY

Entertainment/Music

TOP ACHIEVEMENTS

One of the first Black British entertainers to gain national and international fame, Dame Shirley Bassey's rich voice and glamorous image set new standards for subsequent generations of aspiring music divas. In one of the most remarkable rags-to-riches stories in the history of show business, Bassey’s sheer force of personality and talent made her into one of the most influential and inspirational female performers of the last century.

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION

Shirley Veronica Bassey was born in the working-class Tiger Bay area of Cardiff, Wales, on January 8, 1937. She was the youngest of seven children of an English mother and a Nigerian father, who separated when she was two years old. Bassey sang in the Moorland Road School choir, where her vocal talent was already evident, but she received little encouragement. At just 15, Bassey left school to work in a factory and sang in local pubs and clubs in evenings and weekends.

EARLY CAREER

In 1953, at age 16, Bassey was cast in her first musical revue and continued to perform in touring variety shows until she landed a recording contract in 1955 with Philips Records. The following year, she released her first single, "Burn My Candle," but it was banned by the British Broadcasting Corporation due to its suggestive lyrics. Her first British hit arrived in 1957 with “Banana Boat Song.”

ACHIEVEMENTS

Bassey’s worldwide popularity took off when she sang Goldfinger for the 1964 James Bond movie of the same name. She also sang the theme songs for two other Bond films, Diamonds Are Forever (1971) and Moonraker (1979). In total, Bassey released a staggering 105 singles as well as 70 albums and sold nearly 140 million records. In 2020, at the age of 83, with the release of her final album, I Owe It All to You, Bassey became the first female artist to chart an album in the top 40 of the UK Albums Chart in seven consecutive decades.

RECOGNITION

In 1993, she was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and in 2000, she became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to the performing arts. She was awarded France's top honor, the Legion d'Honneur, to recognize her popularity and importance in French culture. She also holds a Guinness World Record for Most Successful British Female Singer.

ADDITIONAL FACTS

• In 2003, Bassey auctioned 50 of her glamorous, sequined stage gowns at Christie’s in London. The auction raised around $350,000, which was donated to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to establish an annual scholarship in her name and the Noah`s Ark Children`s Hospital in her home city of Cardiff.
• She received a standing ovation at the 2013 Academy Awards for her performance of Goldfinger.
• Bassey has been married twice, divorced twice, and had two daughters – Sharon, born when Bassey was only 16 years old, and Samantha. In 1985, Samantha tragically drowned, aged just 21.