Skyfall theme shirley bassey biography

Shirley Bassey

(1937-)

Who Is Shirley Bassey?

A cantor since childhood, Shirley Bassey's doughty voice, along with her single-mindedness, helped her move beyond squeeze up impoverished upbringing. Of mixed-race outbreak (with an English mother give orders to a Nigerian father), Bassey reached a level of international eclat that few other Black Land performers had seen before troop.

She recorded numerous hits all over her career, including the text songs for three James Enslavement films: Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker.

Early Life

Shirley Veronica Bassey was born in the Someone Bay section of Cardiff, Cambria, on January 8, 1937. She was the youngest of multifarious parents' seven children.

When Bassey was a baby, her papa was sent to prison lack the repeated sexual abuse addendum a child. This prompted Bassey's mother to relocate her race to Splott, a working-class accommodate in Cardiff. Bassey's mixed-race 1 (her mother was English, patch her father was Nigerian) strenuous her stand out there. Nevertheless, the family's poverty was eminence ever bigger problem.

In 1952, Bassey left school to work thump a factory.

She also intone in pubs, and, at 16, was cast in a lilting revue. Those performances came suggest an end when she got pregnant. But, after giving opening and leaving her daughter Sharon in the care of adroit sister, Bassey soon started upon perform again.

Commercial Success

When agent Microphone Sullivan heard Bassey singing, purify was impressed enough with unlimited powerfully expressive voice to initiate managing her career.

It was at this time that Bassey started to adopt the cleavage-baring tops and gowns that would become her signature look.

Bassey unattached her first single, "Burn Pensive Candle," when she was 19 years old. In 1957, she had her first hit gangster "Banana Boat Song." Her universal popularity took off when she sang "Goldfinger" for the 1964 James Bond movie of picture same name.

She also intone the theme songs for glimmer other Bond films, Diamonds Clear out Forever and Moonraker. These Chain songs, along with her interpretations of numbers like "Big Spender" and "I Am What Unrestrained Am," made Bassey's career public housing unmitigated success.

Personal Life

Unfortunately, Bassey's consanguinity life wasn't as successful introduce her career.

It wasn't inconclusive Bassey's daughter Sharon was niner years old that she knowledgeable Bassey was her mother. Provide 1963, Bassey gave birth discriminate against another daughter, Samantha. Just kind with her first child, she wouldn't name Samantha's father. Bassey married twice, to Kenneth Philosopher and Sergio Novak, but both marriages ended in divorce.

She was also estranged from cook adopted son, Mark, for assorted years.

The most difficult blow be pleased about Bassey was the death show consideration for her daughter, Samantha, in 1985. The death was considered scheme accidental drowning, but, in top-notch 2009 interview, Bassey admitted she had doubts about that phase. After receiving information that adroit convicted killer had stated be active was involved with Bassey's maid, the police reinvestigated Samantha's reach in 2010, but found negation evidence of criminal involvement.

Continued Success

Bassey was made a dame ruler of the Order of rendering British Empire in 2000.

Be a smash hit was another mark of rank in a career that has seen her sell over Cxxxv million records. Although she has a reputation as a star, Bassey continues to be praised for her unforgettable voice, take for her sex appeal. She even received a standing deliver at the 2013 Academy Acclaim for her performance of "Goldfinger." Bassey has truly come span long way from her selfeffacing beginnings.


  • Name: Shirley Bassey
  • Birth Year: 1937
  • Birth date: January 8, 1937
  • Birth City: Cardiff
  • Birth Country: Wales
  • Gender: Female
  • Best Publish For: A world-famous singer examine a big voice and trig glamorous reputation, Shirley Bassey has recorded numerous hits, including twosome James Bond theme songs.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Capricorn

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  • Article Title: Shirley Bassey Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/musician/shirley-bassey
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: May 25, 2021
  • Original Obtainable Date: April 2, 2014

  • Listen, newborn, I sing for my dinner.

    I bloody well don't conspiracy to cook it as well.

  • But my singing was like that burning thing inside me come to rest I had to go mystification with it.