Shirley Bassey - Welsh Women, Timeline and Personal Life
Shirley Bassey's Personal Details
Shirley Bassey is a world-famous Welsh singer who has recorded numerous hits and is best known for her three James Bond theme songs.
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | January 8, 1937 |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Famous | Black Female Singers, Singers, Welsh Women |
| Spouses | Kenneth Hume |
| Known as | Dame Shirley Bassey, Shirley Veronica Bassey, Bassey, Shirley |
| Childrens | Samantha Bassey, Sharon Novak |
| Birth Place | Tiger Bay |
| Height | 160 |
| Gender | Female |
| Father | Henry Bassey |
| Mother | Eliza Jane Start |
| Net Worth | $10 Million as of May 15,2017 |
| Sun Sign | Capricorn |
| Born in | Tiger Bay |
| Famous as | Singer |
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Shirley Bassey's photo
Who is Shirley Bassey?
Shirley Bassey is a world-famous Welsh singer who has recorded numerous hits and is best known for her three James Bond theme songs. Born in Wales, she was the youngest of the seven children of her parents who separated before she was three years old. After leaving school at age 15, she worked in a factory and sang in men’s clubs before she made her big breakthrough and landed a recording deal. She released her first single at the age of 19 and had her first hit with the famous ‘Banana Boat Song’. Constantly in the spotlight throughout the 1960s and 1970s, she combined her trademark vocal delivery with elements of jazz, funk and soul. She gained worldwide popularity when she sang ‘Goldfinger’ for the eponymous 1964 James Bond movie. Among her subsequent U.K. chart toppers were ‘As I Love You’ and ‘Reach for the Stars/Climb Every Mountain’ and she continued to have hits in Britain well into the 1970s. She also sang the theme songs for two other Bond films, ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ and ‘Moonraker’; both the songs turned out to be blockbusters. One of the first black British entertainers to gain national and international fame, she became a forerunner of the scores of pop music divas who emerged in the last decades of the 20th century.
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Childhood & Early Life
Shirley Veronica Bassey was born on January 8, 1937, in the Tiger Bay section of Cardiff, Wales, to Henry Bassey, and his wife, Eliza Jane Start. She was the youngest of the seven children in her family with three sisters, two half-sisters, and one brother.
When Bassey was a baby, her father was jailed for the repeated sexual abuse of a child and her mother relocated the family to Splott, a working-class neighborhood in Cardiff.
In 1952, she left Splott Secondary Modern School to work in a factory at the age of 15. She also sang in public houses and clubs in the evenings and weekends, and was cast in a musical revue when she was 16.
Career
In 1955, her talent was noted by Michael Sullivan, a booking agent, who recognized the potential in the young girl and decided to groom her. Subsequently, Philips A&R and record producer, Johnny Franz, spotted her and offered her a recording deal.
In February 1956, at the age of 19, her first recorded single titled ‘Burn My Candle’ was released. The next year, more singles followed and Shirley Bassey had her first hit with ‘The Banana Boat Song’, which reached No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart.
In mid-1958, Shirley Bassey recorded two singles ‘As I Love You’ and ‘Kiss Me, Honey Honey, Kiss Me’ which turned out to be two of the classics of her illustrious career.
In the early and mid-1960s, she had numerous hits on the UK charts, and five albums in the Top 15. In 1967, one of her best-known singles ‘Big Spender’ was released.
During the 1970s, the success of ‘Something’ spawned a series of successful albums including ‘Something Else’ (1971), ‘And I Love You So’ (1972), ‘Love, Life and Feelings’ (1976), ‘You Take My Heart Away’ (1977) and ‘Yesterdays’ (1978).
Throughout the 1980s, Bassey focused on charitable work and performed on occasional concert tours throughout Europe and the United States.
In 2003, Shirley Bassey celebrated 50 years in show business and released ‘Thank You for the Years’, which became another Top 20 album.
In 2007, her single ‘The Living Tree’ marked Bassey's 50th anniversary in the UK Singles Chart.
In 2014, she released a new album titled ‘Hello Like Before’. It includes a 50th anniversary re-recording of ‘Goldfinger’ and her duet of ‘Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend’ with Paloma Faith.
Major Works
In 1965, her song ‘Goldfinger’ from the eponymous James Bond film featured in the US Top 40 Billboard Hot 100.
Awards & Achievements
In 1959, she won the NME Award for the Favorite British Female Singer.
In 1974, she won the title of the Best Female Entertainer by the American Guild of Variety Artists.
In 1993, she was named the Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
In 1999, she received the Legion d'Honneur, France's top honour.
In 2000 Shirley Bassey was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.
In 2000, she was also given the title of the Most Successful British Female Singer and was included in the Guinness Book of Records.
In 2004, she received the Artist for Peace Award from the UNESCO.
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1961, she married Kenneth Hume, a gay film producer, but the couple separated in 1964. The following year, they divorced amidst the rumors of the Bassey’s affair with actor Peter Finch.
In 1968, she entered into wedlock with Sergio Novak, the assistant manager of the Excelsior Hotel in Venice, Lido, Italy. Novak served as her manager throughout their marriage until they divorced in 1979.
She gave birth to two daughters, Sharon, born in 1954, and Samantha, born in 1963, but did not disclose the identities of their fathers.
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Shirley Bassey's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 0 | Grammy Hall of Fame Award - 2008 | |
| 0 | Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist - 1977 | |
| 0 | NME Award for British Female Singer - 1960-1959 | |
| 0 | World Music Award Lifetime Achievement Award - 2014 | |
Shirley Bassey biography timelines
- // 8th Jan 1937Shirley Veronica Bassey was born on January 8, 1937, in the Tiger Bay section of Cardiff, Wales, to Henry Bassey, and his wife, Eliza Jane Start. She was the youngest of the seven children in her family with three sisters, two half-sisters, and one brother.
- // 1952In 1952, she left Splott Secondary Modern School to work in a factory at the age of 15. She also sang in public houses and clubs in the evenings and weekends, and was cast in a musical revue when she was 16.
- // 1954 To 1963She gave birth to two daughters, Sharon, born in 1954, and Samantha, born in 1963, but did not disclose the identities of their fathers.
- // 1955In 1955, her talent was noted by Michael Sullivan, a booking agent, who recognized the potential in the young girl and decided to groom her. Subsequently, Philips A&R and record producer, Johnny Franz, spotted her and offered her a recording deal.
- // Feb 1956In February 1956, at the age of 19, her first recorded single titled ‘Burn My Candle’ was released. The next year, more singles followed and Shirley Bassey had her first hit with ‘The Banana Boat Song’, which reached No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart.
- // 1958In mid-1958, Shirley Bassey recorded two singles ‘As I Love You’ and ‘Kiss Me, Honey Honey, Kiss Me’ which turned out to be two of the classics of her illustrious career.
- // 1959In 1959, she won the NME Award for the Favorite British Female Singer.
- // 1961 To 1964In 1961, she married Kenneth Hume, a gay film producer, but the couple separated in 1964. The following year, they divorced amidst the rumors of the Bassey’s affair with actor Peter Finch.
- // 1965In 1965, her song ‘Goldfinger’ from the eponymous James Bond film featured in the US Top 40 Billboard Hot 100.
- // 1967In the early and mid-1960s, she had numerous hits on the UK charts, and five albums in the Top 15. In 1967, one of her best-known singles ‘Big Spender’ was released.
- // 1968 To 1979In 1968, she entered into wedlock with Sergio Novak, the assistant manager of the Excelsior Hotel in Venice, Lido, Italy. Novak served as her manager throughout their marriage until they divorced in 1979.
- // 1971 To 1978During the 1970s, the success of ‘Something’ spawned a series of successful albums including ‘Something Else’ (1971), ‘And I Love You So’ (1972), ‘Love, Life and Feelings’ (1976), ‘You Take My Heart Away’ (1977) and ‘Yesterdays’ (1978).
- // 1974In 1974, she won the title of the Best Female Entertainer by the American Guild of Variety Artists.
- // 1993In 1993, she was named the Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
- // 1999In 1999, she received the Legion d'Honneur, France's top honour.
- // 2000In 2000 Shirley Bassey was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.
- // 2000In 2000, she was also given the title of the Most Successful British Female Singer and was included in the Guinness Book of Records.
- // 2003In 2003, Shirley Bassey celebrated 50 years in show business and released ‘Thank You for the Years’, which became another Top 20 album.
- // 2004In 2004, she received the Artist for Peace Award from the UNESCO.
- // 2007In 2007, her single ‘The Living Tree’ marked Bassey's 50th anniversary in the UK Singles Chart.
- // 2014In 2014, she released a new album titled ‘Hello Like Before’. It includes a 50th anniversary re-recording of ‘Goldfinger’ and her duet of ‘Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend’ with Paloma Faith.
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Shirley Bassey's FAQ
What is Shirley Bassey birthday?
Shirley Bassey was born at 1937-01-08
Where is Shirley Bassey's birth place?
Shirley Bassey was born in Tiger Bay
What is Shirley Bassey nationalities?
Shirley Bassey's nationalities is Welsh
Who is Shirley Bassey spouses?
Shirley Bassey's spouses is Kenneth Hume
Who is Shirley Bassey childrens?
Shirley Bassey's childrens is Samantha Bassey, Sharon Novak
How tall is Shirley Bassey?
Shirley Bassey's height is 160
Who is Shirley Bassey's father?
Shirley Bassey's father is Henry Bassey
Who is Shirley Bassey's mother?
Shirley Bassey's mother is Eliza Jane Start
What is Shirley Bassey's sun sign?
Shirley Bassey is Capricorn
How famous is Shirley Bassey?
Shirley Bassey is famouse as Singer