Shirley Bassey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shirley Bassey
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Bassey in 1971
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Shirley Veronica Bassey |
| Born | 8 January 1937 Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1953–present |
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Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey (born 8 January 1937) is a famous singer from Wales. She is known for her powerful voice and for having a very long career. She is the only artist to have sung the theme songs for three James Bond movies. Because of this, she is one of the most popular singers in Great Britain.
Born in Cardiff, Bassey started performing when she was a teenager in 1953. By 1959, she was the first person from Wales to have a number-one hit song in the United Kingdom. Over the years, she had 27 songs in the top 40 charts. She is most famous for singing the themes for the James Bond films Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Moonraker (1979).
Bassey has starred in many of her own television specials for the BBC. In 1977, she won the first-ever Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist. She was made a Dame in 1999 for her work in music and entertainment. Many famous singers, including Aretha Franklin, have said that Bassey was a big influence on them.
With a career of over 70 years, Bassey has sold more than 140 million records around the world. This makes her one of the best-selling female artists ever. She is also the first woman to have an album in the UK Top 40 charts in seven different decades.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Music
Shirley Veronica Bassey was born in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, Wales. She was the youngest of six children. Her father was from Nigeria, and her mother was from England.
Even as a young girl at school, her teachers noticed her strong voice. However, they often told her to sing more quietly. A classmate remembered her singing a song from the musical Show Boat with so much emotion that it made their teacher feel uncomfortable. At age 14, she left school to work in a factory. In the evenings, she sang in local pubs and clubs to follow her dream.
In 1953, at age 16, Bassey signed her first contract to tour in a musical show. A few years later, a record producer named Johnny Franz saw her on television and offered her a recording deal. In 1957, she had her first hit song, "The Banana Boat Song", which reached number 8 on the UK charts. This was the start of her amazing career.
Career Highlights
Rise to Fame in the 1950s
In the late 1950s, Bassey became a huge star. In 1958, she recorded "As I Love You". At first, it didn't sell well. But after she performed on the popular TV show Sunday Night at the London Palladium, the song became a massive hit. In January 1959, it reached number one on the charts and stayed there for four weeks. This made her the first Welsh artist to have a number-one single.
At the same time, her song "Kiss Me, Honey Honey, Kiss Me" was also very popular. Soon, she had two songs in the top 3 at the same time. This success made her one of the biggest names in British music.
The James Bond Theme Songs
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One of Shirley Bassey's greatest claims to fame is her connection to the James Bond movies. In 1964, she recorded the theme song for the film Goldfinger. The song was a huge hit all over the world, especially in the United States. It became her only Top 40 hit on the American Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song "Goldfinger" is now considered a classic and is one of her most famous performances.
She was asked to sing for the series again in 1971 for the movie Diamonds Are Forever. This song also became a major hit. In 1979, she recorded her third Bond theme for the movie Moonraker. No other singer has performed more than one official James Bond theme song, making her unique in the history of the film series.
A Global Superstar
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Bassey's fame grew around the world. She performed in Las Vegas and at famous venues like Carnegie Hall in New York City. In 1961, her song "Reach for the Stars" became another number-one hit in the UK.
In 1970, she released the album Something, which included her version of The Beatles' song "Something". Her powerful version was a bigger hit in the UK than the original. Another major hit from this time was "Never Never Never" in 1973, which was successful in the UK, the US, and Australia.
She also hosted her own popular TV show for the BBC, where she sang and had famous guests like Neil Diamond and Dusty Springfield.
Later Career and New Music
Bassey continued to record and perform for many more decades. In 1987, she worked with the electronic group Yello on the song "The Rhythm Divine". In 1997, she had a dance hit with the song "History Repeating", which she recorded with the group Propellerheads.
In 2009, she released the album The Performance. For this album, famous musicians like Gary Barlow of Take That and the Pet Shop Boys wrote songs especially for her.
In 2020, her album I Owe It All To You entered the UK charts. This made her the first female artist in history to have an album in the Top 40 for seven decades in a row. She continues to perform at major events, including the 2013 Academy Awards and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
Personal Life
Shirley Bassey was married twice. Her first marriage was to Kenneth Hume from 1961 to 1965. Her second husband was Sergio Novak, who was also her manager. They were married from 1968 to 1979.
Bassey has two daughters, Sharon and Samantha. In 1985, her younger daughter, Samantha, died tragically at the age of 21. Bassey has said that the pain of losing her daughter was so great that she temporarily lost her voice.
Today, Bassey has four grandsons through her daughter Sharon. She lives in Monaco.
Honours and Legacy
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Shirley Bassey has received many awards for her contributions to music.
- In 1994, she was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
- In 2000, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II, which is a very high honour in the UK.
- In 2003, she was given the Legion of Honour, one of the highest awards in France.
- In 2008, her song "Goldfinger" was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame.
- In 2019, she was given the Freedom of the City of Cardiff, her hometown.
- In 2024, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) for her services to music.
Her powerful voice and exciting stage presence have influenced generations of singers. She is celebrated as a true music legend and a cultural icon in Britain and around the world.
Images for kids
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A photo dedicated by Bassey to musician Pino Presti after they worked together in 1970.
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Bassey performing at Wembley Arena in 2006.
See also
In Spanish: Shirley Bassey para niños
- List of best-selling music artists
