Shirley Bassey

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

47

Gender

Female

Birthday

1937-01-08 (89 years old)

Place of Birth

Butetown, Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales, UK

Shirley Bassey

Biography

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

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • The Graham Norton Show

    The Graham Norton Show

  • Parkinson

    Parkinson

  • Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

    Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

  • The Muppet Show

    The Muppet Show

  • The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

  • Le Grand Échiquier

    Le Grand Échiquier

  • An Audience with...

    An Audience with...

  • The Danny Kaye Show

    The Danny Kaye Show

  • Morecambe & Wise

    Morecambe & Wise

  • Everything or Nothing

    Everything or Nothing

  • Ein Kessel Buntes

    Ein Kessel Buntes

  • Auf los geht's los

    Auf los geht's los

  • Disco

    Disco

  • Viña del Mar International Song Festival

    Viña del Mar International Song Festival

  • …Sings Neil Diamond

    …Sings Neil Diamond

  • …Sings Musicals

    …Sings Musicals

  • Bei Bio

    Bei Bio

  • Night-Club

    Night-Club

  • St David's Day at the BBC

    St David's Day at the BBC

  • Europarty

    Europarty

  • The Sound of 007

    The Sound of 007

  • Wünsch dir was

    Wünsch dir was

  • The World of James Bond

    The World of James Bond

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

    The Sound of 007: Live from the Royal Albert Hall

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

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

  • 60 Songs: BBC Two at 60

    60 Songs: BBC Two at 60

  • The Bond Sound: The Music of 007

    The Bond Sound: The Music of 007

  • Summertime Special

    Summertime Special

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

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

  • The Diamond Jubilee Concert 2012

    The Diamond Jubilee Concert 2012

  • Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall

    Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall

  • Shirley Bassey: A Special Lady

    Shirley Bassey: A Special Lady

  • La Passione

    La Passione

  • Shirley Bassey

    Shirley Bassey

  • The Art of Dissent

    The Art of Dissent

  • Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes

    Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes

  • An Audience with Des O'Connor

    An Audience with Des O'Connor

  • Shirley Bassey: Divas Are Forever

    Shirley Bassey: Divas Are Forever

  • Shirley Bassey - You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet

    Shirley Bassey - You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet

  • David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey

    David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey

  • The Bing Crosby Show

    The Bing Crosby Show

  • An Audience with Shirley Bassey

    An Audience with Shirley Bassey

  • More Dangerous Songs: And the Banned Played On

    More Dangerous Songs: And the Banned Played On

  • Dame Shirley Bassey: BBC Electric Proms

    Dame Shirley Bassey: BBC Electric Proms

  • Another Audience with Shirley Bassey

    Another Audience with Shirley Bassey