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Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey (; born 8 January 1937) is a Welsh singer. Best known for her career longevity, powerful voice and recording the theme songs to three
James Bond The ''James Bond'' series focuses on a fictional Secret Intelligence Service, British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections. Since Fleming's death in 19 ...
films, Bassey is widely regarded as one of the most popular vocalists in Britain. Born in
Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a ...
, Bassey began performing as a teenager in 1953. In 1959, she became the first Welsh person to gain a number-one single on the
UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
. In the following decades, Bassey amassed 27 Top 40 hits in the UK, including two number-ones. She became well-known for recording the soundtrack theme songs of the James Bond films '' Goldfinger'' (1964), '' Diamonds Are Forever'' (1971), and '' Moonraker'' (1979). In 2020, Bassey became the first female artist to chart an album in the Top 40 of the
UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts ...
in seven consecutive decades with her album '' I Owe It All To You''. Bassey has also had numerous BBC television specials, and she hosted her own variety series, '' Shirley Bassey''. In 2011, BBC aired the television film ''Shirley'', based on Bassey's life and career. Since making her first appearance at the Royal Albert Hall in 1971, she has performed at the venue 45 times. Bassey received the first award for Best British Female Solo Artist at the
1st Brit Awards The Brit Awards 1977 was a United Kingdom popular music award special event to mark both 100 years since Thomas Edison invented the phonograph A phonograph, in its later forms also called a gramophone (as a trademark since 1887, as a ...
in 1977.The Brits 1977
Brit Awards
She was appointed a Dame in 1999 for services to the performing arts. In 2003, she was ranked among the " 100 Great Black Britons". Her song " Goldfinger" was inducted into the
Grammy Hall of Fame The Grammy Hall of Fame is a hall of fame to honor musical recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance. Inductees are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of ...
in 2008. She has influenced many other singers, including
Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the "Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in ''Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With ...
.


Early life

Shirley Veronica Bassey was born the sixth and youngest child of Henry Bassey and Eliza Jane Start on Bute Street in
Tiger Bay Tiger Bay ( cy, Bae Teigr) was the local name for an area of Cardiff which covered Butetown and Cardiff Docks. Following the building of the Cardiff Barrage, which dams the tidal rivers, Ely and Taff, to create a body of water, it is refe ...
,
Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a ...
. She grew up in the nearby community of Splott. Her father was
Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...
, and her mother came from
Teesside Teesside () is a built-up area around the River Tees in the north of England, split between County Durham and North Yorkshire. The name was initially used as a county borough in the North Riding of Yorkshire. Historically a hub for heavy manu ...
. Two of her mother's four children from previous relationships lived in the Bassey household. Bassey's mother listed her first husband, Alfred Metcalfe, as her own father in the registry of her marriage to Henry Bassey, giving rise to speculation that this marriage was bigamous in the absence of a prior divorce. Eliza and Henry's second child died in infancy, so Shirley was born into a household of three sisters, two half-sisters, and one brother. Teachers and students alike at Moorland Road School noticed Bassey's strong voice, but gave the pre-teen little encouragement: "everyone told me to shut up. Even in the school
choir A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which s ...
the teacher kept telling me to back off till I was singing in the corridor!" A classmate recalled her singing the refrain "
Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" with music by Jerome Kern, and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, is one of the most famous songs from their classic 1927 musical play '' Show Boat'', adapted from Edna Ferber's 1926 novel. Context The song, written i ...
" from '' Show Boat'' with such feeling that she made their teacher uncomfortable. She left Splott secondary modern school at age 14 to work at
Curran Steels Curran Steels was a manufacturing company in Cardiff, Wales, founded as the ''Edward Curran Engineering Co'' and known locally as ''Curran's''. The factory was located on the east bank of the River Taff, near to Cardiff Docks. It was served ...
and, in the evenings and weekends, to sing in local pubs and clubs.


Career


1953–1959: Career beginnings

In 1953, Bassey signed her first professional contract, touring with the variety show ''Memories of Jolson'', a musical based on the life of Al Jolson. On 17 December 1953, Bassey signed a contract with Columbia Productions for two performances at the salary of £10. Her next professional engagement was in the touring show ''Hot from Harlem'', in which she and other mixed-race Cardiff performers were passed off as Black Americans in 1954. A review of the show in March 1954 included: "Shirley Bassey, an attractive young singer, is an asset to the show." Later that year, Bassey gave birth to her daughter Sharon, while staying with her sister Ella in London. While performing in Jersey, Bassey met her first manager, Mike Sullivan. In 1955, Bassey toured various theatres until she was noticed by the impresario Jack Hylton at the Astor Club in September 1955. He invited her to feature in Al Read's ''Such Is Life'' which opened on 14 December 1955 at the Adelphi Theatre in London's
West End West End most commonly refers to: * West End of London, an area of central London, England * West End theatre, a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London, England West End may also refer to: Pl ...
. In the show, which ran until 3 November 1956, she featured the song " Burn My Candle", leading one reviewer to say that she had nearly stopped the show with the song "which brought outraged mutters, then roars of shamefaced applause." During the show's run,
Philips Koninklijke Philips N.V. (), commonly shortened to Philips, is a Dutch multinational conglomerate corporation that was founded in Eindhoven in 1891. Since 1997, it has been mostly headquartered in Amsterdam, though the Benelux headquarters is ...
record producer Johnny Franz spotted her on television, was impressed, and offered her a recording deal. Bassey recorded her first single, " Burn My Candle", the song she had featured in "Such Is Life", and this was released in February 1956. The cabaret-style song was banned by the BBC because the lyrics were considered too suggestive. More singles followed, and in February 1957, Bassey had her first hit with " The Banana Boat Song", which reached No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart. Following a successful run at the
Café de Paris, London The Café de Paris was a London nightclub, located in the West End, beside Leicester Square on Coventry Street, Piccadilly. Opened in 1924, it became one of the leading theatre clubs in London. After being hit by a German bomb in 1941, when a ...
, she made her American stage début in
Las Vegas Las Vegas (; Spanish language, Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the List of United States cities by population, 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the U.S. state, state of Neva ...
at El Rancho Vegas in February 1957. Following on from Las Vegas, Bassey opened at Ciro's on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood on 15 February 1957. She also recorded under the direction of American producer Mitch Miller in New York City for the
Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...
label (which at the time had a distribution deal with Philips), producing the single "If I Had a Needle and Thread" b/w "Tonight My Heart She Is Crying". On her return to the UK in April 1957, she starred in " Sunday Night at the London Palladium" for the first time on 28 April 1957. In mid-1958, Bassey recorded two singles that would become classics in the Bassey catalogue. "As I Love You" was released as the
B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record company ...
of another ballad, "Hands Across the Sea"; it did not sell well at first but, after another appearance at the
London Palladium The London Palladium () is a Grade II* West End theatre located on Argyll Street, London, in the famous area of Soho. The theatre holds 2,286 seats. Of the roster of stars who have played there, many have televised performances. Between 1955 a ...
on 30 November, sales began to pick up. In January 1959, "As I Love You" reached number-one and stayed there for four weeks; it was the first number-one single by a Welsh artist. While "As I Love You" climbed the charts, so did Bassey's recording of "
Kiss Me, Honey Honey, Kiss Me "Kiss Me, Honey Honey, Kiss Me" is a popular song written by Michael Julien and Al Timothy. It was first recorded by Welsh singer Shirley Bassey and released as a single in 1958 to commercial success (number 3 in the UK Singles Chart). The song wa ...
" and both records would end up occupying the top 3 at the same time. A few months later, Bassey signed to EMI's
Columbia Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region in ...
label and released the album '' The Fabulous Shirley Bassey''. The album reached No. 12 on the UK Albums chart.


1960–1979: Success and breakthrough

Between 1960 and 1961, Bassey had four Top 10 hits in the UK. Her 1960 recording of " As Long As He Needs Me" from Lionel Bart's '' Oliver!'' peaked at No. 2, and had a chart run of 30 weeks. She made her American television début on 13 November 1960, when she performed on ''
The Ed Sullivan Show ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television program, television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York City, New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in Septembe ...
''. In 1961, the double A-side " Reach for the Stars"/"
Climb Ev'ry Mountain "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" is a show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical ''The Sound of Music.'' It is sung at the close of the first act by the Mother Abbess. It is themed as an inspirational piece, to encourage people to take ever ...
" reached number-one. Bassey's version of " As Long as He Needs Me" reached No. 2. Her single " I'll Get By" peaked at No. 10. Bassey's rendition of "You'll Never Know" was one of England's top hits in 1961, reaching No. 6 on the charts. She began to gain recognition in the American market and signed to
United Artists Records United Artists Records was an American record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 to issue movie soundtracks. The label expanded into other genres, such as easy listening, jazz, pop, and R&B. History Genres In 1959, ...
in August 1961. The following month she began a five-week engagement at the Persian Room inside New York's
Plaza Hotel The Plaza Hotel (also known as The Plaza) is a luxury hotel and condominium apartment building in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is located on the western side of Grand Army Plaza, after which it is named, just west of Fifth Avenue ...
Bassey's collaboration with
Nelson Riddle Nelson Smock Riddle Jr. (June 1, 1921 – October 6, 1985) was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid-1980s. He worked with many world-famous vocalists at Capitol Reco ...
and his orchestra, the album '' Let's Face the Music'' (1962), reached No. 12 in the UK album chart; and the single, "
What Now My Love What Now My Love may refer to: * "What Now My Love" (song), a popular song, recorded by many artists * ''What Now My Love'' (album), an album by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass 1966, that includes a version of the song {{disambig ...
" made it to No. 5 in 1962. Her cover version of the Ben E. King hit " I (Who Have Nothing)" reached No. 6 in 1963. In January 1963, Bassey performed at a gala commemorating the second anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's inauguration in Washington, D.C. In March 1963, she appeared on the cover of ''
Ebony Ebony is a dense black/brown hardwood, coming from several species in the genus '' Diospyros'', which also contains the persimmons. Unlike most woods, ebony is dense enough to sink in water. It is finely textured and has a mirror finish when ...
'' magazine. Bassey made her debut at New York's Carnegie Hall debut on 15 February 1964. The complete concert recording was not released until it was included in the EMI compilation ''The EMU/UA Years 1959–1979'' in 1994. In 1965, Bassey enjoyed her only Top 40 hit on the '' Billboard'' Hot 100 with the title song of the James Bond film, '' Goldfinger''. The single " Goldfinger" was released in the US in January 1965, peaking at No 8. The original soundtrack for ''Goldfinger'' hit number-one in the US that year. The "Goldfinger" theme song, had a lasting impact on her career. In the sleeve notes for Bassey's ''25th Anniversary Album'' (1978), Peter Clayton noted that: "Acceptance in America was considerably helped by the enormous popularity of ("Goldfinger")...But she had actually established herself there as early as 1961, in
cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, a casino, a hotel, a restaurant, or a nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dinin ...
in New York. She was also a success in Las Vegas...'I suppose I should feel hurt that I've never been really big in America on record since "Goldfinger"...But, concertwise, I always sell out.'..." Her live 1965 album ''
Shirley Bassey at the Pigalle ''Shirley Bassey at the Pigalle'' is Shirley Bassey's first live album, recorded on the opening night of an eight-week engagement at the Pigalle, a nightclub in the West End of London. This performance, on 12 September 1965, earned Bassey outst ...
'', recorded during a sold-out run at the Pigalle in London, peaked at No. 15 on the UK album chart. Also in 1965, she sang the title song for the James Bond spoof '' The Liquidator.'' Bassey recorded a song for the next Bond film, '' Thunderball'' (1965). " Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" was not used in the movie, although the film's score follows its melodic theme. Written by John Barry and Leslie Bricusse, "Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" was re-recorded by American singer
Dionne Warwick Marie Dionne Warwick (; born December 12, 1940) is an American singer, actress, and television host. Warwick ranks among the 40 biggest U.S. hit makers between 1955 and 1999, based on her chart history on ''Billboards Hot 100 pop singles ch ...
, and then rejected in favor of a new song, "Thunderball", hastily written by Barry and given to Welsh singer
Tom Jones Tom Jones may refer to: Arts and entertainment *Tom Jones (singer) (born 1940), Welsh singer * Tom Jones (writer) (1928–2023), American librettist and lyricist *''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'', a novel by Henry Fielding published in ...
after the film's producers decided the song over the opening credits must feature the film's title. In the aftermath of "Goldfinger" her UK sales started to falter as well: only two of her singles would enter the UK top 40 from 1966 to 1970. Her first album on United Artists, " I've Got a Song for You" (1966), spent one week on the chart. From 1966 to 1970, only two albums would chart, one of those a compilation. One of her best-known singles, " Big Spender" was released in 1967, charting just short of the UK top 20. Bassey began to live as a tax exile in 1968 and was unable to work in Britain for almost two years. In 1969, she appeared in NBC's ''The Spring Thing,'' a musical television special hosted by Bobbie Gentry and
Noel Harrison Noel John Christopher Harrison (29 January 1934 – 19 October 2013) was an English actor and singer who had a hit singing " The Windmills of Your Mind" in 1968, and was a member of the British Olympic skiing team in the 1950s. He was the son ...
. Guests included were Goldie Hawn, Meredith MacRae, Irwin C. Watson, Rod McKuen, and Harpers Bizarre. Bassey's UK comeback came in 1970 leading to one of the most successful periods of her career. Starting the year with a BBC Television 'Special', ''
The Young Generation Douglas William Squires (born 1932) is an English choreographer, known best for his work in television from the mid-1950s. He was born in Nottingham. Choreography The groups he has choreographed for television include: *The Young Generation *The ...
Meet Shirley Bassey'', recorded in Sweden and shown on
BBC1 BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins ...
on 18 March. She returned to the UK with a record-breaking run of performances at the Talk of the Town nightclub. Also that year, her album '' Something'' was released, and showcased a new Bassey style, a shift from traditional pop to more contemporary songs and arrangements (the eponymous single was more successful in the UK charts than the original recording by
The Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developm ...
) – although Bassey would never completely abandon that which had been her forte: standards, show tunes, and torch songs. Her song " Something" was also a top 10 US hit on the
Adult Contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quiet ...
chart. Other singles of this period included the hit " Never Never Never", an English version of the Italian "Grande grande grande", reaching the top 10 in the US Adult Contemporary Chart, the UK top 10 and number one in Australia and South Africa. Returning to the James Bond franchise, she recorded the theme song for '' Diamonds Are Forever'' (1971). Bassey appeared on the '' Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show'', broadcast on Christmas Day in 1971. Bassey was the subject of ''
This Is Your Life This Is Your Life may refer to: Television * ''This Is Your Life'' (American franchise), an American radio and television documentary biography series hosted by Ralph Edwards * ''This Is Your Life'' (Australian TV series), the Australian versio ...
'' on two occasions: firstly, in November 1972 when she was surprised by
Eamonn Andrews Eamonn Andrews, (19 December 1922 – 5 November 1987) was an Irish radio and television presenter, employed primarily in the United Kingdom from the 1950s to the 1980s. From 1960 to 1964 he chaired the Radio Éireann Authority (now the RTÉ A ...
at Heathrow Airport, and then in January 1993, when
Michael Aspel Michael Terence Aspel (born 12 January 1933) is an English retired television newsreader and host of programmes such as '' Crackerjack'', ''Aspel & Company'', '' Give Us a Clue'', ''This is Your Life'', '' Strange but True?'' and '' Antiques R ...
surprised her at the curtain call of a sell-out concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Bassey recorded a series of successful albums on the United Artists label, including: '' Something Else'' (1971); '' And I Love You So'' (1972); ''
I Capricorn ''I Capricorn'' is a 1972 album by Shirley Bassey. Following on from the success of her previous two albums, ''I Capricorn'' saw Bassey still in the midst of her revival in the 1970s. Some months earlier she had released the single "For All We K ...
'' (1972); '' Never Never Never'' (1973); '' Good, Bad but Beautiful'' (1975); ''
Love, Life and Feelings ''Love, Life and Feelings'' is the 21st studio album from Shirley Bassey, released in 1976 on the United Artists label. The album peaked at #13 in the UK album chart, and charted at #149 in the Billboard 200. ''Love, Life and Feelings'' was award ...
'' (1976); ''
You Take My Heart Away ''You Take My Heart Away'' is the 22nd studio album from Shirley Bassey, released in 1977 on the United Artists Records label. The album peaked at #34 in the UK album chart. The tracks recorded for this album are contemporary pop, soft rock songs ...
'' (1977) and ''Yesterdays'' (1978). Additionally, two of Bassey's earlier LPs also entered the charts in the '70s: ''
And We Were Lovers ''And We Were Lovers'' is a 1967 studio album by Shirley Bassey. The album featured Bassey's first recording of "Big Spender', the single subsequently hit #21 on the charts. ''And We Were Lovers'' was recorded in America and in England. The Amer ...
'' (1967, re-issued as ''Big Spender''), and '' Let's Face the Music'' (1962, re-issued as ''What Now My Love''). Two compilations, ''
The Shirley Bassey Singles Album ''The Shirley Bassey Singles Album'' is a compilation album released in 1975 by British singer Shirley Bassey. Having seen a sales dip in the latter half of the 1960s, Bassey enjoyed a successful comeback in the 1970s, beginning with the single ...
'' (1975) and ''
25th Anniversary Album ''25th Anniversary Album'' is a compilation album by Shirley Bassey. Released in 1978 to mark her 25th year in show business, the album was a double set, comprising 40 tracks. The songs included span just 20 of the 25 years from 1957 to 1976, ho ...
'' (1978), both made the top three of the UK charts: ''
The Shirley Bassey Singles Album ''The Shirley Bassey Singles Album'' is a compilation album released in 1975 by British singer Shirley Bassey. Having seen a sales dip in the latter half of the 1960s, Bassey enjoyed a successful comeback in the 1970s, beginning with the single ...
'', her highest-charting album, reached number two and earned a gold disc, and the ''25th Anniversary Album'' eventually went platinum. Between 1970 and 1979, Bassey had 18 hit albums in the UK Albums Chart. Her album ''The Magic Is You'' (1979) featured a portrait by the photographer Francesco Scavullo. In 1973, her sold-out concerts at New York's Carnegie Hall were recorded and released as a two-LP set, ''Shirley Bassey: Live at Carnegie Hall''; this album reached No. 20 on the Billboard R&B album chart. In 1976, Bassey starred in the six-episode '' Shirley Bassey'' show, the first of her television programmes for the BBC, followed by a second series of six episodes in 1979. The final show of the first series was nominated for the Golden Rose of Montreux in 1977. The series featured guests including
Neil Diamond Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. He has sold more than 130 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. He has had ten No. 1 singles on the Hot 100 and Adul ...
, Michel Legrand, The Three Degrees and Dusty Springfield and featured Bassey in various international locations as well as in the television studio. In 1978, Bassey pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly "after shouting abuse in the street and pushing a policeman". In 1979, Bassey recorded the title theme song for the Bond film, '' Moonraker''.


1980–1999: Semi-retirement and continued success

Throughout most of the 1980s, Bassey focused on charitable work and performing occasional concert tours throughout Europe, Australia, and the United States. She had ended her contract with United Artists, whose former record division was now part of EMI, and began what she referred to as "semi-retirement". Bassey recorded an album entitled '' All by Myself'' (1982) and made a TV special for Thames Television called ''A Special Lady'' with guest
Robert Goulet Robert Gérard Goulet (November 26, 1933 October 30, 2007) was an American and Canadian singer and actor of French-Canadian ancestry. Goulet was born and raised in Lawrence, Massachusetts until age 13, and then spent his formative years in Canad ...
. Around this time she recorded a duet with the French film actor Alain Delon, "Thought I'd Ring You" (1983). Bassey was now recording far less often but an album of her most famous songs, '' I Am What I Am'' (1984), was recorded with the
London Symphony Orchestra The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London. Founded in 1904, the LSO is the oldest of London's orchestras, symphony orchestras. The LSO was created by a group of players who left Henry Wood's Queen's ...
(LSO) conducted by Carl Davis. This was followed by a single and video to support the London Tourist Board, "
There's No Place Like London "There's No Place Like London" is a song co-written by Lynsey de Paul and Gerard Kenny, and held by the British Library. The song was published by Lynsey de Paul Music/Chelsea Publishing Co Ltd/Arlon Music/Chappell Music. Vinyl release It was f ...
" (1986), which was co-written by Lynsey de Paul and Gerard Kenny. She recorded an album of James Bond themes, ''
The Bond Collection ''The Bond Collection'', a.k.a. ''Bassey Sings Bond'', is a 1987 studio album by Shirley Bassey, notable for having been released without the artist's consent and subsequently withdrawn from sales by court order. History In early 1987, Bassey a ...
'' in 1987, but was apparently unhappy with the results so she declined to release it. (Five years later it was released anyway, Bassey sued in court, and all unsold copies were withdrawn.) Bassey provided vocals for Swiss artists Yello on "
The Rhythm Divine "The Rhythm Divine" is a 1987 song written by Boris Blank, Dieter Meier, and Billy Mackenzie and recorded by Yello with Shirley Bassey. Single release The single was released by Yello and Shirley Bassey in 1987 and was the first CD single b ...
" (1987), a song co-written by Scottish singer Billy Mackenzie. An album sung entirely in Spanish, ''
La Mujer ''La Mujer'' ''Shirley Bassey canta en Español'' (''The Woman - Shirley Bassey sings in Spanish''), is a Shirley Bassey studio album recorded in Spanish. The first recording sessions were held in Spain, and the album was completed in California ...
'' was released in 1989. In the latter mid-1980s Bassey had started working with a vocal coach, a former opera singer, and her album ''
Keep the Music Playing ''Keep the Music Playing'' is a 1991 album by Shirley Bassey. The album was recorded in the UK at the Westgreen Studios and in the Netherlands at Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum. The album is a mixture of contemporary pop ballads, such as "I Want t ...
'' (1991) displayed a grand, operatic pop style on several songs (perhaps also influenced by her album with the LSO seven years earlier). EMI released the five-CD box set '' Bassey – The EMI/UA Years 1959–1979'' in 1994. The accompanying booklet opened with a poem by
Marc Almond Peter Mark Sinclair "Marc" Almond, (born 9 July 1957) is an English singer. Almond first began performing and recording in the synthpop/ new wave duo Soft Cell where he became known for his distinctive soulful voice and androgynous image. H ...
. Bassey collaborated with Chris Rea in the film '' La Passione'' (1996), appearing in the film as herself and releasing the single "
'Disco' La Passione "Disco' La Passione" is a 1996 song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea. The song was written for the film '' La Passione'', a semi-autobiography by Rea. Shirley Bassey made her feature film debut here, but the film was a disappointment at the ...
". The remix of this single charted just outside the UK top 40. Bassey's " History Repeating" (1997), written for her by the Propellerheads, reached number one on the UK Dance Chart, and number 10 on the US Dance Chart. The liner notes of the Propellerheads' album '' Decksandrumsandrockandroll'' included the lines: "We would like to extend our maximum respect to Shirley Bassey for honouring us with her performance. We are still in shock...." Bassey celebrated her 60th birthday in 1997 with two open-air concerts, at Castle Howard and Althorp Park, and another TV special. The resulting live album ''The Birthday Concert'' received a
Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...
nomination for
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance The Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album is an award presented to recording artists at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards. Honors in several categories are presented ...
. On 7 October 1998 in Egypt, Bassey performed for a benefit at an open-air concert close to the
Sphinx A sphinx ( , grc, σφίγξ , Boeotian: , plural sphinxes or sphinges) is a mythical creature with the head of a human, the body of a lion, and the wings of a falcon. In Greek tradition, the sphinx has the head of a woman, the haunches o ...
and the Great Pyramid. Bassey played the Friday night at Henley Festival in 1984. Bassey was sued in a breach of contract case in 1998 by her former personal assistant, who also accused Bassey of hitting her and making an ethnic slur. Bassey won the case. The episode was lampooned by Alexander Baron in his one-act play ''The Trial of Shirley Bassey''. The following year, she performed the official song for the rugby World Cup, " World in Union", with
Bryn Terfel Sir Bryn Terfel Jones, (; born 9 November 1965) (known professionally as Bryn Terfel) is a Welsh bass-baritone opera and concert singer. Terfel was initially associated with the roles of Mozart, particularly ''Figaro'', '' Leporello'' and '' ...
at the opening ceremony at The
Millennium Stadium The Millennium Stadium ( cy, Stadiwm y Mileniwm), known since 2016 as the Principality Stadium ( cy, Stadiwm Principality) for sponsorship reasons, is the national stadium of Wales. Located in Cardiff, it is the home of the Wales national ru ...
, Cardiff, wearing a gown based on the Welsh flag. Their single made the top 40, and Bassey contributed two more songs to the official album ''Land of My Fathers'', which reached number one on the UK compilations chart, and went silver.


2000–present: High-profile performances and final album

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Bassey continued to perform at various high profile events. In 2001, she was principal artiste at the Duke of Edinburgh's 80th birthday celebration. On 3 June 2002, she was one of a line-up of artists including
Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...
,
Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. On ...
and
Tom Jones Tom Jones may refer to: Arts and entertainment *Tom Jones (singer) (born 1940), Welsh singer * Tom Jones (writer) (1928–2023), American librettist and lyricist *''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'', a novel by Henry Fielding published in ...
who performed at the Queen's 50th Jubilee Party at Buckingham Palace. Bassey celebrated 50 years in show business in 2003 with the release of the CD ''
Thank You for the Years ''Thank You for the Years'' is a 2003 album by Dame Shirley Bassey. This album, a mix of new and previously released material, commemorated Bassey's 50 years in show business. Bassey marks the year 1953 as her official entry into show business, ...
'', which was another top 20 album. A gala charity auction of her stage costumes at
Christie's Christie's is a British auction house founded in 1766 by James Christie. Its main premises are on King Street, St James's in London, at Rockefeller Center in New York City and at Alexandra House in Hong Kong. It is owned by Groupe Artémis, t ...
, "Dame Shirley Bassey: 50 Years of Glittering Gowns", raised £250,000 (US$500,000) for the Dame Shirley Bassey Scholarship at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Noah's Ark Children's Hospital Appeal. Bassey topped the bill at the 2005 Royal Variety Performance, introducing her new song " The Living Tree". Two popular ''Audiences with Shirley Bassey'' have aired on British television, one in 1995 that attracted more than 10 million viewers in the UK, with the second broadcast in 2006. Bassey returned to perform in five arenas around the UK in June the same year, culminating at Wembley. She also performed a concert in front of 10,000 people at the
Bryn Terfel Sir Bryn Terfel Jones, (; born 9 November 1965) (known professionally as Bryn Terfel) is a Welsh bass-baritone opera and concert singer. Terfel was initially associated with the roles of Mozart, particularly ''Figaro'', '' Leporello'' and '' ...
Faenol Festival in
North Wales North Wales ( cy, Gogledd Cymru) is a region of Wales, encompassing its northernmost areas. It borders Mid Wales to the south, England to the east, and the Irish Sea to the north and west. The area is highly mountainous and rural, with Snowdonia N ...
broadcast by BBC Wales. Marks & Spencer signed her for their Christmas 2006 James Bond–style television advertising campaign. Bassey is seen in a glamorous ice palace singing a
cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song relea ...
of
Pink Pink is the color of a namesake flower that is a pale tint of red. It was first used as a color name in the late 17th century. According to surveys in Europe and the United States, pink is the color most often associated with charm, politeness, ...
's song " Get the Party Started", wearing an M&S gown. " The Living Tree", written, produced, and originally recorded by the group Never the Bride, was released as a single on 23 April 2007, marking Bassey's 50th anniversary in the UK Singles Chart – and the record for the longest span of top-40 hits in UK chart history. Bassey performed a 45-minute set at the 2007
Glastonbury Festival Glastonbury Festival (formally Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts and known colloquially as Glasto) is a five-day festival of contemporary performing arts that takes place in Pilton, Somerset, England. In addition to contempo ...
wearing a pink Julien Macdonald dress, and customised Wellington boots. A new album, '' Get the Party Started'', was subsequently released on 25 June 2007 and entered the
UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts ...
at number six. The single of the title song reached number 3 on the US Dance Chart. The same year, Bassey performed "Big Spender" with
Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...
at his annual White Tie and Tiara Ball to raise money for
The Elton John AIDS Foundation The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) is a nonprofit organization, established by rock musician Sir Elton John in 1992 in the United States and 1993 in the United Kingdom to support innovative HIV prevention, education programs, direct car ...
. In 2007, Bassey performed in ''Fashion Rocks'' in aid of The Prince's Trust at the Royal Albert Hall. Bassey was rushed to hospital in Monaco on 23 May 2008 to have an emergency operation on her stomach after complaining of abdominal pains. She was forced to pull out of the Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Tribute concert because of her illness. A biography of Bassey, ''Diamond Diva'', was published in 2008. Bassey recorded the album ''
The Performance ''The Performance'' is an album by the Welsh singer Shirley Bassey, released on 9 November 2009. It is her first studio album of original compositions in three decades. The album was executive produced by music executive Paul Carey and English ...
'' (2009), with James Bond composer David Arnold as co-producer (with Mike Dixon). A number of artists wrote songs expressly for her, including Manic Street Preachers, Gary Barlow, Tom Baxter, KT Tunstall, Pet Shop Boys,
Nick Hodgson Nicholas James David Hodgson (born 20 October 1977) is an English drummer, backing vocalist, and songwriter, formerly of the indie rock band Kaiser Chiefs. Early life He attended St. Mary's Menston with Nick Baines and Simon Rix. He then wen ...
of the
Kaiser Chiefs Kaiser Chiefs are an English indie rock band from Leeds who formed in 2000 as Parva, releasing one studio album, ''22'', in 2003, before renaming and establishing themselves in their current name that same year. Since their formation the band h ...
, John Barry and Don Black. Bassey headlined at the
BBC Electric Proms The BBC Radio 2 Electric Proms (formerly the BBC Electric Proms) was an October music festival in London run by the BBC for five years, 2006–2010. On 31 January 2011, the BBC announced that the event would be discontinued with immediate effec ...
on 23 October 2009, in her only full live set of 2009. She performed several of the new songs from ''The Performance'' in November 2009 on various TV shows: '' The Graham Norton Show'', '' The Paul O'Grady Show'' and as the guest singer on '' Strictly Come Dancing''. Bassey performed at a gala celebrating the 80th birthday of Mikhail Gorbachev on 30 March 2011. She also performed at the Classical Brit Awards in 2011, singing "Goldfinger" in tribute to John Barry. The BBC broadcast a 70-minute drama entitled ''Shirley'' on 29 September 2011, depicting Bassey's early life and career. Ruth Negga played the title role. Bassey was one of the line-up of artists on 4 June 2012 who performed at the Queen's 60th Jubilee Party at Buckingham Palace, singing "Diamonds Are Forever". She performed at the 2013 Academy Awards on 24 February 2013 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the James Bond movie franchise. It was her first appearance at an Oscars ceremony as a performer. She sang "Goldfinger" to a standing ovation. Bassey performed "I'm Still Here" and "The Lady Is A Tramp" on 13 November 2014 at the Royal Variety Performance in the presence of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Bassey released another album, ''Hello Like Before'', on 17 November 2014. It includes a 50th-anniversary re-recording of "Goldfinger" (recreating the original orchestration) and a duet of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" with Paloma Faith, produced and conducted by Stuart Barr. In December 2016, Bassey starred in a 60-minute BBC broadcast hosted by David Walliams. On 11 March 2018, Bassey performed "Almost Like Being In Love" in a tribute to Sir Bruce Forsyth at the London Palladium. At a gala for AMFAR (The Foundation for Aids Research) in Los Angeles on 18 October 2018, Bassey sang "Goldfinger", "Diamonds Are Forever", "Almost Like Being In Love" and "I Am What I Am". On 9 August 2019, Bassey performed at UNICEF's Summer Gala in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, singing "Goldfinger", "Diamonds Are Forever" and "S'Wonderful". Bassey appeared on the Ball & Boe TV Christmas Special on Friday 20 December 2019, singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" with Michael Ball and Alfie Boe. In 2020, with the release of her most recent 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 The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts ...
in seven consecutive decades. On 4 October 2022, Bassey performed in "The Sound of 007: Live from the Royal Albert Hall", which commemorated the 60th Anniversary of the James Bond Film era. She sang the two opening songs, "Diamonds are forever" and "Goldfinger".


Personal life


Marriages

Bassey's first marriage was to Kenneth Hume in 1961. The couple separated in 1964 and divorced in 1965 in the wake of Bassey's affair with actor Peter Finch. She then announced to the press that she and Finch would not be marrying, telling the press: "It simply wouldn't work out. Just know I am not ready for marriage to anyone. I feel I have to be free." A year later, Hume sued Finch and another man, John McAuliffe, for being "indiscreet" with Bassey. Both Finch and McAuliffe were cited as co-respondents in the Hume–Bassey divorce. For her part, Bassey was named as co-respondent in 1965 when Finch's wife, South African actress Yolande Turner, divorced him. From 1968 until they divorced in 1979, Bassey was married to Sergio Novak, the assistant manager of the Excelsior Hotel in Venice. During this time, Novak was Bassey's manager, and they adopted Mark, her grand-nephew.


Children

The fathers of Bassey's two daughters, Sharon Bassey (a.k.a. Sharon Novak, born 1954) and Samantha Bassey (a.k.a. Samantha Novak, born 1963), are unknown. Bassey had Sharon at the age of 17 and her sister Ella raised her as her own daughter until the 1960s. Bassey's first husband suggested that Samantha, born during the couple's marriage, was the result of an affair between Bassey and Peter Finch. In 1985, Samantha, age 21, was found dead in the River Avon in Bristol, England. Bassey has always maintained that the death of her daughter was not a suicide. On 24 March 2010, Avon and Somerset Police confirmed they were undertaking fresh inquiries into the death and specifically claims that the convicted killer Michael Moffat was involved in her death. However, in October 2010 it was reported that the investigation came to an end and concluded that there "is no evidence of any criminal act involved" in Novak's death. The ordeal of losing her daughter caused Bassey to temporarily lose her voice. In a 2009 interview, Bassey stated that she and her son, Mark, had reconciled. Bassey has four grandsons through her surviving daughter, Sharon Novak. Bassey resides in
Monaco Monaco (; ), officially the Principality of Monaco (french: Principauté de Monaco; Ligurian: ; oc, Principat de Mónegue), is a sovereign ''Sovereign'' is a title which can be applied to the highest leader in various categories. The word ...
. In 2018, Bassey reported that she had a great-granddaughter.


Accolades

In 1994, Bassey became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) on 31 December 1999 by
Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...
for services to entertainment. She was invited to perform in 2002 at the Party at the Palace, a public celebration of the Queen's
Golden Jubilee A golden jubilee marks a 50th anniversary. It variously is applied to people, events, and nations. Bangladesh In Bangladesh, golden jubilee refers the 50th anniversary year of the separation from Pakistan and is called in Bengali ''"সু ...
. Bassey also performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace on 4 June 2012, singing "Diamonds Are Forever". She was invited to perform at the Queen's 90th Birthday celebrations at Windsor Castle on 15 May 2016. In 2012, Bassey was among the British cultural icons selected by artist Sir Peter Blake to appear in a new version of his most famous artwork – the Beatles' ''
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band ''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'' is the eighth studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. Released on 26May 1967, ''Sgt. Pepper'' is regarded by musicologists as an early concept album that advanced the roles of sound composi ...
'' album cover – to celebrate the British cultural figures of his life that he most admires. In 2016, she was named as one of "the 50 greatest Welsh men and women of all time". In November 2016 the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama announced the naming of the Shirley Bassey Studio in celebration of Bassey's long-standing support for young Welsh singers studying at the College. She was awarded a
Knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the G ...
in France's
Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...
in 2003, to signify her popularity and importance in the culture of France. Bassey was awarded the freedom of her hometown, Cardiff, in a ceremony at City Hall on 17 May 2019. Bassey has also received the following honors: * 1993: Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama * * 1999: Madam Tussaud's waxwork unveiled in London (second model in Las Vegas) * 2000: Most Successful British Female Singer – Guinness Book of Records * 2004: Ranked No. 8 on the list of " 100 Great Black Britons" * 2005: Avenue of Stars – plaque unveiled in London *2018: She unveiled a carriage on the Snowdon Mountain Railway, named in her honour *2019: Freedom of the City of Cardiff *2019: Square of Fame – plaque of Bassey's handprints unveiled at the SSE Arena, Wembley Park, London *2020: Official UK Chart Record – First female artist to claim a top 40 album in seven consecutive decades


Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
, - , 1999 , ''The Birthday Concert'' , Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album , , - , 2008 , " Goldfinger" ,
Grammy Hall of Fame The Grammy Hall of Fame is a hall of fame to honor musical recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance. Inductees are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of ...
(Single) , NME Awards , - , 1959 , Shirley Bassey , Favorite British Singer , , - , 1960 , Shirley Bassey , Favorite British Singer , Bassey has also received the following awards and nominations: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *2014: Lifetime Achievement Award – World Music Awards * *


Discography


Television specials


Bibliography

* "Shirley Bassey: Diamonds Are Forever" – Mary Long (2017) * ''Miss Shirley Bassey'' – John L. Williams (2010) – London: Quercus. * ''Shirley Bassey: Diamond Diva'' – Peter Hogan (2008) * ''Cardiff: Rebirth of a Capital'' (Foreword by Shirley Bassey) – Ungersma, Hurn (2005) * ''Shirley Bassey: Welsh History Stories'' – Evans, Stokes, ap Emlyn, ap Emlyn (2003) * ''Shirley Bassey: An appreciation'' – Muriel Burgess (1998, reprinted 1999) * ''My Life on Record and in Concert'' – Shirley Bassey (Bloomsbury, 1998) * ''The Trial of Shirley Bassey – A Play in One Act'' – Alexander Baron (1998) * ''Shirley Bassey: This Is My Life'' (Piano/vocal/guitar) – Sheet music book * ''Shirley Bassey: You're the Voice'' (Piano/vocal/guitar) – Sheet music book * '' Guinness Book of British Hit Singles'' – 14th Edition – * ''Guinness Book of British Hit Singles'' – 16th Edition – * ''Guinness Book of British Hit Albums'' – 7th Edition – * ''The Book of Golden Discs'' – 2nd Edition – * ''The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits'' –


See also

*
List of best-selling music artists The following list of best-selling music artists includes those music acts from the 20th century to the present with claims of 75 million or more record sales worldwide. This information cannot be listed officially, as there is no organization ...


References


See also

*
Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...
* Legion of Honour Museum * List of Legion of Honour recipients by name (B) * List of foreign recipients of Legion of Honour by name * List of foreign recipients of the Legion of Honour by country * List of foreign recipients of the Legion of Honour by decade


External links


Dame Shirley Bassey
– Official Facebook Page
Shirley Bassey
discography at
Discogs Discogs (short for discographies) is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. While the site was originally created with a goal of becoming the la ...
*
Shirleybassey.nl
– extensive CD discography with track lists
The Songs of Shirley Bassey (archived site)

Shirley Bassey
biography on BBC Wales {{DEFAULTSORT:Bassey, Shirley 1937 births Living people 20th-century Black British women singers 21st-century Black British women singers Traditional pop music singers Torch singers Welsh pop singers Brit Award winners Nigerian recipients of British titles Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur Singers awarded knighthoods People from Butetown British expatriates in Monaco Welsh people of English descent Welsh people of Nigerian descent People of Efik descent 20th-century Welsh women singers 21st-century Welsh women singers Columbia Graphophone Company artists Philips Records artists Decca Records artists United Artists Records artists Geffen Records artists