Shirley Bassey

Dame Shirley Bassey is a legendary Welsh singer. She is celebrated for her immense career longevity and her powerful vocal range.

Her voice has helped her become one of the most popular vocalists in Britain. She is also famous for her work with the James Bond film franchise. Bassey is the only artist to record more than one official theme song for these movies. Her career has spanned more than 70 years. During this time, she has sold more than 140 million records worldwide. This achievement makes her one of the best-selling female artists of all time.

Bassey was born on January 8, 1937, in Cardiff, Wales. She was the sixth and youngest child of Henry Bassey and Eliza Jane Start. Her father was Nigerian, and her mother was English. She grew up in the Splott community near Tiger Bay. Even as a young student at Moorland Road School, her voice was incredibly strong. In fact, her teachers often told her to sing more quietly. Some classmates even noted that she sang with enough feeling to make teachers feel uncomfortable. After leaving school at age 14, she worked at Curran Steels. She spent her evenings and weekends singing in local pubs and clubs.

Her professional journey began in earnest during the 1950s. In 1953, she signed her first professional contract for a variety show. By 1954, she was performing in the touring show Hot from Harlem. In 1955, the impresario Jack Hylton noticed her at the Astor Club in London. This led to a feature in the West End show Such Is Life. During this run, producer Johnny Franz offered her a recording deal. Her first single, "Burn My Candle," was released in February 1956. Although the BBC banned the song for being too suggestive, her career continued to grow.

Bassey achieved major milestones in the UK charts throughout the late 1950s and 1960s. In 1959, she became the first Welsh person to reach number one on the UK Singles Chart with "As I Love You." She also achieved a number one with the double A-side "Reach for the Stars" and "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" in 1961. Her success extended to the United States, where she performed in Las Vegas and New York City. In 1965, her recording of "Goldfinger" became a massive hit, peaking at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song became a defining moment in her career.

Her connection to the James Bond series remains a unique part of her legacy. She recorded the theme for "Goldfinger" in 1964. She later returned to the franchise for "Diamonds Are Forever" in 1971 and "Moonraker" in 1979. These songs are among her most recognizable works. The song "Goldfinger" was even inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.

Her ability to command the screen through music helped cement the identity of the film series.

Bassey has received numerous prestigious honors for her contributions to music. In 1977, she won the first-ever award for Best British Female Solo Artist at the Brit Awards. In 1999, she was appointed a Dame for her services to the performing arts. She was also recognized as one of the "100 Great Black Britons" in 2003.

One of her most impressive statistical achievements is her consistency. She is the first woman in history to claim a Top 40 album in seven consecutive decades in the United Kingdom.

Throughout her long life, Bassey has remained a major figure in the global music industry. She has performed at the Royal Albert Hall 45 times since 1971. Her influence can be heard in the work of many other famous singers, including Aretha Franklin. Her life was even the subject of a BBC television film titled "Shirley" in 2011. From her early days in Cardiff to her status as a global icon, she has shaped the landscape of popular music.