Shirley Bassey

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

47

Gender

Female

Birthday

1937-01-08 (88 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

  • Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

    Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

  • Le Grand Échiquier

    Le Grand Échiquier

  • Ein Kessel Buntes

    Ein Kessel Buntes

  • Disco

    Disco

  • The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

  • Parkinson

    Parkinson

  • An Audience with...

    An Audience with...

  • The Danny Kaye Show

    The Danny Kaye Show

  • Morecambe & Wise

    Morecambe & Wise

  • The Muppet Show

    The Muppet Show

  • Viña del Mar International Song Festival

    Viña del Mar International Song Festival

  • Auf los geht's los

    Auf los geht's los

  • Wünsch dir was

    Wünsch dir was

  • The Sound of 007

    The Sound of 007

  • An Audience with Shirley Bassey

    An Audience with Shirley Bassey

  • Night-Club

    Night-Club

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

    The Sound of 007: Live from the Royal Albert Hall

  • The Bing Crosby Show

    The Bing Crosby Show

  • The Bond Sound: The Music of 007

    The Bond Sound: The Music of 007

  • More Dangerous Songs: And the Banned Played On

    More Dangerous Songs: And the Banned Played On

  • The Art of Dissent

    The Art of Dissent

  • St David's Day at the BBC

    St David's Day at the BBC

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

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

  • …Sings Musicals

    …Sings Musicals

  • …Sings Neil Diamond

    …Sings Neil Diamond

  • Bei Bio

    Bei Bio

  • 60 Songs: BBC Two at 60

    60 Songs: BBC Two at 60

  • Europarty

    Europarty

  • Everything or Nothing

    Everything or Nothing

  • The World of James Bond

    The World of James Bond

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

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

  • La Passione

    La Passione

  • Summertime Special

    Summertime Special

  • Shirley Bassey: Divas Are Forever

    Shirley Bassey: Divas Are Forever

  • The Diamond Jubilee Concert 2012

    The Diamond Jubilee Concert 2012

  • Dame Shirley Bassey: BBC Electric Proms

    Dame Shirley Bassey: BBC Electric Proms

  • Another Audience with Shirley Bassey

    Another Audience with Shirley Bassey

  • Shirley Bassey - You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet

    Shirley Bassey - You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet

  • Shirley Bassey

    Shirley Bassey

  • Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes

    Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes

  • Shirley Bassey: A Special Lady

    Shirley Bassey: A Special Lady

  • An Audience with Des O'Connor

    An Audience with Des O'Connor

  • David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey

    David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey

  • Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall

    Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall