Shirley Bassey
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.
Known for
ActingBirthday
January 8, 1937Gender
FemaleKnown Movie Credits
26Place of birth
Butetown, Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales, UK
Cast credits
Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace
Self
Shirley Bassey: Divas Are Forever
Herself
Everything or Nothing
Self (archive footage)
David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey
Dame Shirley Bassey
The Bing Crosby Show
Self
A Special Lady
Herself
More Dangerous Songs: And the Banned Played On
Performer
Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall
Self
The Bond Sound: The Music of 007
Self
The World of James Bond
St David's Day at the BBC
Self
An Audience with Shirley Bassey
Self
Dame Shirley Bassey: BBC Electric Proms
self
The Sound of 007
Self (archive footage)
The Sound of 007: Live from the Royal Albert Hall
self
…Sings Musicals
Self (archive footage)
…Sings Neil Diamond
Self (archive footage)
The Art of Dissent
Self - Subject (archive footage)Crew credits
Images
