Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey (/ˈbæsi/; born 8 January 1937)[1] is a Welsh singer. Known for her career longevity, powerful voice and recording the theme songs to three James Bond films, the only artist to perform more than one, Bassey is one of the most popular vocalists in Britain.[2][3]
Born in Cardiff, Bassey began performing as a teenager in 1953. In 1959, she became the first Welsh person to gain a number-one single on the UK Singles Chart.[4] In the following decades, Bassey amassed 27 Top 40 hits in the UK, including two number ones (As I Love You and AA: Climb Ev'ry Mountain/Reach For The Stars) plus a number one on the Dance Chart (History Repeating).[5] She became well known for recording theme songs of the James Bond films Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Moonraker (1979).[6][7][8]
Bassey has had numerous BBC television specials and hosted her own variety series, Shirley Bassey. In 2011, BBC aired the television film Shirley, based on Bassey's life and career.[9] Since making her first appearance at the Royal Albert Hall in 1971, she has performed at the venue 45 times.[10] Bassey received the first award for Best British Female Solo Artist at the 1st Brit Awards in 1977.[11] She was appointed a Dame in 1999 for services to the performing arts. In 2003, she was ranked among the "100 Great Black Britons". Her song "Goldfinger" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008. She has influenced many other singers, including Aretha Franklin.[12]
In a career spanning over 70 years, Bassey has sold over 140 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling female artists of all time.[13][14][15] She is the first woman in history to claim a Top 40 album in seven consecutive decades in the United Kingdom.[16]
Early life
Shirley Veronica Bassey was born the sixth and youngest child of Henry Bassey and Eliza Jane Start on Bute Street in Tiger Bay, Cardiff.[17] She grew up in the nearby community of Splott.[18] Her father was Nigerian, and her English mother came from New Marske, North Yorkshire.[6][19][20][21]
Two of her mother's four children from previous relationships lived in the Bassey household. Bassey's mother listed her first husband, Alfred Metcalfe, as her own father in the registry of her marriage to Henry Bassey, giving rise to speculation that this marriage was bigamous in the absence of a prior divorce.[22] Eliza and Henry's second child died in infancy, so Shirley was born into a household of three sisters, two half-sisters, and one brother.
Teachers and students alike at Moorland Road School noticed Bassey's strong voice but gave the pre-teen little encouragement: "everyone told me to shut up. Even in the school choir the teacher kept telling me to back off till I was singing in the corridor!" A classmate recalled her singing the refrain "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" from Show Boat with such feeling that she made their teacher uncomfortable.[23] She left Splottsecondary modern school at age 14 to work at Curran Steels and, in the evenings and weekends, to sing in local pubs and clubs.[24]
Career
1950s
In 1953, Bassey signed her first professional contract, touring with the variety show Memories of Jolson, a musical based on the life of Al Jolson.[25] On 17 December 1953, Bassey signed a contract with Columbia Productions for two performances at the salary of £10.[26] Her next professional engagement was in the touring show Hot from Harlem, in which she and other mixed-race Cardiff performers played Black Americans in 1954.[27] A review of the show in March 1954 included: "Shirley Bassey, an attractive young singer, is an asset to the show."[28] Later that year, Bassey gave birth to her daughter Sharon, while staying with her sister Ella in London.[27]
While performing in Jersey, Bassey met her first manager, Mike Sullivan.[27] In 1955, Bassey toured various theatres until she was noticed by the impresario Jack Hylton at the Astor Club in September 1955.[29][30] He invited her to feature in Al Read's Such Is Life, which opened on 14 December 1955[31] at the Adelphi Theatre in London's West End. In the show, which ran until 3 November 1956,[32] she featured the song "Burn My Candle", leading one reviewer to say that she had nearly stopped the show with the song "which brought outraged mutters, then roars of shamefaced applause."[33] During the show's run, Philips record producer Johnny Franz spotted her on television, was impressed, and offered her a recording deal. Bassey recorded her first single, "Burn My Candle", the song she had featured in Such is Life, and this was released in February 1956. The cabaret-style song was banned by the BBC because the lyrics were considered too suggestive.[34] More singles followed, and in February 1957, Bassey had her first hit with "The Banana Boat Song", which reached No. 8 in the UK Singles Chart.[5]
Following a successful run at the Café de Paris, London, Bassey made her American stage début in Las Vegas at El Rancho Vegas in February 1957.[35] Following on from Las Vegas, Bassey opened at Ciro's on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood on 15 February 1957.[36] She also recorded under the direction of American producer Mitch Miller in New York City for the Columbia Records label (which at the time had a distribution deal with Philips), producing the single "If I Had a Needle and Thread" b/w "Tonight My Heart She Is Crying". On her return to the UK in April 1957, she starred in "Sunday Night at the London Palladium" for the first time on 28 April 1957.[37]
In mid-1958, Bassey recorded two singles that would become classics in the Bassey catalogue. "As I Love You" was released as the B-side of another ballad, "Hands Across the Sea"; it did not sell well at first but, after another appearance at the London Palladium on 30 November,[38] sales began to pick up. In January 1959, "As I Love You" reached number-one and stayed there for four weeks; it was the first number-one single by a Welsh artist.[4] While "As I Love You" climbed the charts, so did Bassey's recording of "Kiss Me, Honey Honey, Kiss Me" and both records would end up occupying the top 3 at the same time. Having been with Decca Records for four years, Bassey then signed to EMI's Columbia label on 20 April 1959.[39] Her first album for Columbia, The Fabulous Shirley Bassey, was later released and reached. No. 12 on the UK Albums Chart.[40][41]
1960s
Between 1960 and 1961, Bassey had four Top 10 hits in the UK.[5] Her 1960 recording of "As Long As He Needs Me" from Lionel Bart's Oliver! peaked at No. 2,and had a chart run of 30 weeks.[8] She made her American television début on 13 November 1960, when she performed on The Ed Sullivan Show.[42] In 1961, the double A-side "Reach for the Stars"/"Climb Ev'ry Mountain" reached number-one.[5] Bassey's version of "As Long as He Needs Me" reached No. 2.[5] Her single "I'll Get By" peaked at No. 10.[5] Bassey's rendition of "You'll Never Know" was one of the UK's top hits in 1961, reaching No. 6 on the charts.[43][5] She began to gain recognition in the American market and signed to United Artists Records in August 1961.[44] The following month she began a five-week engagement at the Persian Room inside New York's Plaza Hotel[45]
In 1965, Bassey enjoyed her only Top 40 hit on the BillboardHot 100 with the title song of the James Bond film, Goldfinger. The single "Goldfinger" was released in the US in January 1965, peaking at No 8.[50] The original soundtrack for Goldfinger hit number-one in the US that year. The "Goldfinger" theme song had a lasting impact on her career. In the sleeve notes for Bassey's 25th Anniversary Album (1978), Peter Clayton noted that: "Acceptance in America was considerably helped by the enormous popularity of ("Goldfinger")...But she had actually established herself there as early as 1961, in cabaret in New York. She was also a success in Las Vegas...'I suppose I should feel hurt that I've never been really big in America on record since "Goldfinger"...But, concertwise, I always sell out.'..."[51]
Her live 1965 album Shirley Bassey at the Pigalle, recorded during a sold-out run at the Pigalle in London, peaked at No. 15 on the UK album chart.[5] Also in 1965, she sang the title song for the James Bond spoof The Liquidator.[52] Bassey recorded a song for the next Bond film, Thunderball (1965). "Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" was not used in the movie, although the film's score follows its melodic theme. Written by John Barry and Leslie Bricusse, "Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" was re-recorded by American singer Dionne Warwick, and then rejected in favor of a new song, "Thunderball", hastily written by Barry and given to Welsh singer Tom Jones after the film's producers decided the song over the opening credits must feature the film's title.[53]
In the aftermath of "Goldfinger" her UK sales started to falter as well: only two of her singles would enter the UK top 40 from 1966 to 1970. Her first album on United Artists, "I've Got a Song for You" (1966), spent one week on the chart. From 1966 to 1970, only two albums would chart, one of those a compilation. One of her best-known singles, "Big Spender" was released in 1967, charting just short of the UK top 20.[5]
Bassey's UK comeback came in 1970 leading to one of the most successful periods of her career. Starting the year with a BBC Television 'Special', The Young Generation Meet Shirley Bassey, recorded in Sweden and shown on BBC1 on 18 March.[56] She returned to the UK with a record-breaking run of performances at the Talk of the Town nightclub. Also that year, her album Something was released, and showcased a new Bassey style, a shift from traditional pop to more contemporary songs and arrangements (the eponymous single was more successful in the UK charts than the original recording by The Beatles) – although Bassey would never completely abandon that which had been her forte: standards, show tunes, and torch songs.[citation needed]
Her song "Something" was also a top 10 US hit on the Adult Contemporary chart. Other singles of this period included the hit "Never Never Never", an English version of the Italian "Grande grande grande", reaching the top 10 in the US Adult Contemporary Chart, the UK top 10 and number one in Australia and South Africa.
Returning to the James Bond franchise, she recorded the theme song for Diamonds Are Forever (1971). Bassey appeared on the Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show, broadcast on Christmas Day in 1971.[57]
Between 1970 and 1979, Bassey had 18 hit albums in the UK Albums Chart.[8] Her album The Magic Is You (1979) featured a portrait by the photographer Francesco Scavullo. In 1973, her sold-out concerts at New York's Carnegie Hall were recorded and released as a two-LP set, Shirley Bassey: Live at Carnegie Hall; this album reached No. 20 on the Billboard R&B album chart.[50]
In 1976, Bassey starred in the six-episode Shirley Bassey show, the first of her television programmes for the BBC, followed by a second series of six episodes in 1979. The final show of the first series was nominated for the Golden Rose of Montreux in 1977. The series featured guests including Neil Diamond, Michel Legrand, The Three Degrees and Dusty Springfield and featured Bassey in various international locations as well as in the television studio. In 1978, Bassey pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly "after shouting abuse in the street and pushing a policeman".[7] In 1979, Bassey recorded the title theme song for the Bond film, Moonraker.
1980s
Throughout most of the 1980s, Bassey focused on charitable work and performing occasional concert tours throughout Europe, Australia, and the United States. She had ended her contract with United Artists, whose former record division was now part of EMI, and began what she referred to as "semi-retirement". Bassey recorded an album entitled All by Myself (1982) and made a TV special for Thames Television called A Special Lady with guest Robert Goulet. Around this time she recorded a duet with the French film actor Alain Delon, "Thought I'd Ring You" (1983). Bassey was now recording far less often but an album of her most famous songs, I Am What I Am (1984), was recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) conducted by Carl Davis. This was followed by a single and video to support the London Tourist Board, "There's No Place Like London" (1986), which was co-written by Lynsey de Paul and Gerard Kenny. She recorded an album of James Bond themes, The Bond Collection in 1987, but was apparently unhappy with the results so she declined to release it. (Five years later it was released anyway, Bassey sued in court, and all unsold copies were withdrawn.)[59]
Bassey provided vocals for Swiss artists Yello on "The Rhythm Divine" (1987), a song co-written by Scottish singer Billy Mackenzie.[6] An album sung entirely in Spanish, La Mujer was released in 1989.
1990s
Bassey had started working with a vocal coach, a former opera singer, and her album Keep the Music Playing (1991) displayed a grand, operatic pop style on several songs (perhaps also influenced by her album with the LSO seven years earlier).
Bassey was sued in a breach of contract case in 1998 by her former personal assistant, who also accused Bassey of hitting her and making an ethnic slur. Bassey won the case.[7] The episode was lampooned by Alexander Baron in his one-act play The Trial of Shirley Bassey. The following year, she performed the official song for the rugby World Cup, "World in Union", with Bryn Terfel at the opening ceremony at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, wearing a gown based on the Welsh flag. Their single made the top 40, and Bassey contributed two more songs to the official album Land of My Fathers, which reached number one on the UK compilations chart, and went silver.[58][62]
Bassey continued to perform at various high profile events. In 2001, she was principal artiste at the Duke of Edinburgh's 80th birthday celebration. On 3 June 2002, she was one of a line-up of artists including Elton John, Paul McCartney and Tom Jones who performed at the Queen's 50th Jubilee Party at Buckingham Palace.
Bassey celebrated 50 years in show business in 2003 with the release of the CD Thank You for the Years, which was another top 20 album. A gala charity auction of her stage costumes at Christie's, "Dame Shirley Bassey: 50 Years of Glittering Gowns", raised £250,000 (US$500,000) for the Dame Shirley Bassey Scholarship at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Noah's Ark Children's Hospital Appeal.[63] Bassey topped the bill at the 2005 Royal Variety Performance, introducing her new song "The Living Tree".[citation needed]
Two popular Audiences with Shirley Bassey have aired on British television: one in 1995, which attracted more than 10 million viewers in the UK, and a second, broadcast in 2006. Bassey returned to perform in five arenas around the UK in June the same year, culminating at Wembley. She also performed a concert in front of 10,000 people at the Bryn TerfelFaenol Festival in North Wales broadcast by BBC Wales. Marks & Spencer signed her for their Christmas 2006 James Bond–style television advertising campaign. Bassey was seen in a glamorous ice palace singing a cover version of Pink's song "Get the Party Started", wearing an M&S gown.[64]
Bassey was rushed to hospital in Monaco on 23 May 2008 to have an emergency operation on her stomach after complaining of abdominal pains. She was forced to pull out of the Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Tribute concert because of her illness.[68] A biography of Bassey, Diamond Diva, was published in 2008.[69]
The BBC broadcast a 70-minute drama entitled Shirley on 29 September 2011, depicting Bassey's early life and career.[73]Ruth Negga played the title role. Bassey was one of the line-up of artists on 4 June 2012 who performed at the Queen's 60th Jubilee Party at Buckingham Palace, singing "Diamonds Are Forever".[74] She performed at the 2013 Academy Awards on 24 February 2013 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the James Bond movie franchise. It was her first appearance at an Oscars ceremony as a performer.[75] She sang "Goldfinger" to a standing ovation.[76]
Bassey performed "I'm Still Here" and "The Lady Is A Tramp" on 13 November 2014 at the Royal Variety Performance in the presence of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.[citation needed]
Bassey released another album, Hello Like Before, on 17 November 2014. It included a 50th-anniversary re-recording of "Goldfinger" (recreating the original orchestration) and a duet of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" with Paloma Faith, produced and conducted by Stuart Barr.[77]
In December 2016, Bassey starred in a 60-minute BBC broadcast hosted by David Walliams.[78]
On 11 March 2018, Bassey performed "Almost Like Being In Love" in a tribute to Bruce Forsyth at the London Palladium. At a gala for AmfAR (The Foundation for Aids Research) in Los Angeles on 18 October 2018, Bassey sang "Goldfinger", "Diamonds Are Forever", "Almost Like Being In Love" and "I Am What I Am".[citation needed]
On 9 August 2019, Bassey performed at UNICEF's Summer Gala in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, singing "Goldfinger", "Diamonds Are Forever" and "S'Wonderful". Bassey appeared on the Ball & Boe TV Christmas Special on Friday 20 December 2019, singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" with Michael Ball and Alfie Boe.[citation needed]
2020s
In 2020, with the release of her most recent album, I Owe It All To You, Bassey became the first female artist to chart an album in the top 40 of the UK Albums Chart in seven consecutive decades.[79]
Bassey at The Sound of 007 in October 2022
On 4 October 2022, Bassey performed in The Sound of 007: Live from the Royal Albert Hall, which commemorated the 60th Anniversary of the James Bond films. She sang the two opening songs, "Diamonds Are Forever" and "Goldfinger". In 2023, Dame Shirley was awarded The Order of Saint Charles by Prince Albert II of Monaco.
In May, 2024, Bassey announced the charity auction of her 80 pieces jewellery and watches, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels including an Elton John diamond ring at the October 10 Sotheby’s Fine Jewels sale, Nikita Binani, Head of Jewellery said.[80]
Personal life
Marriages
Bassey's first marriage was to Kenneth Hume in 1961. The couple separated in 1964 and divorced in 1965 in the wake of Bassey's affair with actor Peter Finch. She then announced to the press that she and Finch would not be marrying, telling the press: "It simply wouldn't work out. Just know I am not ready for marriage to anyone. I feel I have to be free."[81] A year later, Hume sued Finch and another man, John McAuliffe, for being "indiscreet" with Bassey.[82] Both Finch and McAuliffe were cited as co-respondents in the Hume–Bassey divorce.[83] For her part, Bassey was named as co-respondent in 1965 when Finch's wife, South African actress Yolande Turner, divorced him.[84]
From 1968 until they divorced in 1979, Bassey was married to Sergio Novak, the assistant manager of the Excelsior Hotel in Venice. During this time, Novak was Bassey's manager, and they adopted Mark, her grand-nephew.[85][20][21]
Children
The fathers of Bassey's two daughters, Sharon Bassey (a.k.a. Sharon Novak, born 1954) and Samantha Bassey (a.k.a. Samantha Novak, born 1963), are unknown.[85][81] Bassey had Sharon at the age of 17 and her sister Ella raised her as her own daughter until the 1960s.[27][86] Bassey's first husband suggested that Samantha, born during the couple's marriage, was the result of an affair between Bassey and Peter Finch.
In 1985, Samantha, age 21, was found dead in the River Avon in Bristol. Bassey has always maintained that the death of her daughter was not a suicide.[7] On 24 March 2010, Avon and Somerset Police confirmed they were undertaking fresh inquiries into the death and specifically claimed that the convicted killer Michael Moffat was involved in her death.[87] However, in October 2010 it was reported that the investigation had come to an end, concluding that there was "no evidence of any criminal act involved" in Novak's death.[88] The ordeal of losing her daughter caused Bassey to temporarily lose her voice.[89]
In a 2009 interview, Bassey stated that she and her son, Mark, had reconciled.[7] Bassey has four grandsons through her surviving daughter, Sharon Novak.[90] Bassey resides in Monaco.[7]
In 2018, Bassey reported that she had a great-granddaughter.[91]
In 2012, Bassey was among the British cultural icons selected by artist Sir Peter Blake to appear in a new version of his most famous artwork – the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover – to celebrate the British cultural figures of his life that he most admires.[95][96] In 2016, she was named as one of "the 50 greatest Welsh men and women of all time".[97] In November 2016 the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama announced the naming of the Shirley Bassey Studio in celebration of Bassey's long-standing support for young Welsh singers studying at the College. She was made a Knight of France'sLegion of Honour in 2003,[98][99] to signify her popularity and importance in the culture of France. Bassey was awarded the freedom of her hometown, Cardiff, in a ceremony at City Hall on 17 May 2019.[100]
Bassey received the following honours:
1993: Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
3 September 1957 (1957-09-03) BBC Television at 6:45 pm
From the bright lights of Las Vegas and the West End, Shirley Bassey returns to her own people in the heart of Cardiff's dockland. Also at the party are: Gladys Morgan, Jimmy Rogers and 'The Black and Whites'. Introduced by Alun Williams from Cardiff's Queen Alexandra Dock.[105]
"Show of the Week: Shirley Bassey at Bern's Restaurant"
Stewart Morris
6 July 1969 (1969-07-06) BBC2 at 9:55 pm
Shirley Bassey at Bern's Restaurant, Stockholm. Orchestra directed by Alyn Ainsworth. A BBC co-production with Sveriges Radio.[110] Repeated on BBC1 20 September 1969 at 7:30 pm.
From the Cirkus Studio in Stockholm, Sweden. With Udo Jürgens, Andre Tahon and Ray Dondy with Alyn Ainsworth and his orchestra. A joint BBC/SR production.[111]
8
1
"Shirley Bassey Singing Special"
Stewart Morris
13 August 1970 (1970-08-13) BBC1 at 9:10 pm
Tonight this international singing star makes one of her rare appearances in this country. With Brian Fahey and his orchestra.[112] Repeated on BBC2 23 December 1970 at 9:20 pm.
An international cabaret this week from London introduced by Francis Matthews. Also starring Trio Athenee, Rod Hull and Emu, Alfredo Alex Welsh and his Band, Joe Castor and Partner and the Pamela Devis Dancers. The Night Club Orchestra directed by Johnny Harris.[113]
10
1
"Show of the Week: Shirley Bassey"
Dieter Finnern
28 September 1972 (1972-09-28) BBC2 at 9:25 pm
Shirley Bassey on location in Sardinia and Berlin sings some of the songs which have made her famous. With the SFB Orchestra directed by Brian Fahey. A BBC/SFB Co-production.[113]
11
1
"Shirley Bassey"
Stewart Morris
26 December 1972 (1972-12-26) BBC1 at 9:55 pm
Shirley Bassey Recently returned from a record-breaking appearance in New York. With 'Segment' choreographed by Nigel Lythgoe and featuring Alyn Ainsworth and his orchestra.[114]
Starring international singing star Shirley Bassey with her special guest Neil Diamond. Orchestra directed by Arthur Greenslade.[116]
14
1
"Shirley Bassey"
Stewart Morris
27 December 1975 (1975-12-27) BBC1 at 8:20 pm
From the triumphs of a world tour, this superbly talented artist arrives for another high-flying television special. Tonight Shirley sings many of her famous hits together with a selection of new songs. Orchestra directed by Arthur Greenslade.[117] Repeated on BBC2 16 April 1976 at 9:10 pm.
15
1
"Shirley Bassey: I Am What I Am"
Mike Alexander
30 July 1994 (1994-07-30) BBC1 at 9:50 pm
In a documentary that is almost as revealing as her dresses, Shirley Bassey talks about her work and the cost to her family life.[118]
16
1
"The Shirley Bassey Concert"
Gavin Taylor
30 July 1994 (1994-07-30) BBC1 at 10:40 pm
Footage of a performance shot last September as Shirley Bassey opened Cardiff's new International Arena with two sell-out shows before an audience of 11,000 fans.[119]
17
1
"Shirley Bassey: This Is My Life"
Alan Lewens
2 January 1998 (1998-01-02) BBC1 at 10:05 pm
A documentary portrait of the internationally-acclaimed vocalist, following her travels through New York, London and Monte Carlo. The programme contains intimate moments behind the scenes as well as capturing her performances on the stage.[120] Repeated 7 April 2000.
18
1
"Shirley Bassey: Viva Diva!"
Mike Mansfield
31 December 1998 (1998-12-31) BBC1 at 9:10 pm
Shirley Bassey sings a selection of show stopping songs, with the help of a large orchestra, the cast of the hit West End stage musical Chicago and a million pounds' worth of diamonds.[121]
19
1
"Dame Shirley Bassey: Electric Proms"
Janet Fraser Cook
24 October 2009 (2009-10-24) BBC2 at 10:40 pm
The singer celebrates 50 years in the business with a special performance at London's Roundhouse.[122] Repeated multiple times on BBC HD and BBC4.
^Paphides, Pete (30 October 2009). "Dame Shirley Bassey: The Performance review". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2009. Welsh diva thrives on new material written by artists half her age.
^"1999 Grammy Awards". Metrolyrics.com. 25 February 1999. Archived from the original on 31 August 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^Discombe, Matt (17 May 2019). "Dame Shirley Bassey returns to Cardiff to receive freedom of the city". WalesOnline. Retrieved 19 May 2019. She said the award "is up there with becoming a Dame. It's probably more so because not many people get freedom of the city. There are a lot of Dames around."
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