Shirley Bassey is a Welsh singer known for her powerful voice and career longevity.
Bassey is the only artist to have recorded the theme songs for three James Bond films.
She was born in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, to a Nigerian father and an English mother, growing up in a household of six children.
Biography
Early Life
Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey was born on January 8, 1937, in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, as the youngest of six children to Henry Bassey, a Nigerian father, and Eliza Jane Start, an English mother. Growing up in a vibrant yet challenging environment, she faced early discouragement regarding her singing talent, with teachers urging her to tone down her powerful voice. Despite this, she began performing in local pubs and clubs at the age of 14 after leaving school to work at Curran Steels.
Career
Bassey’s professional journey began in 1953 when she signed her first contract and toured with the variety show "Memories of Jolson." Her big break came in 1955 when she was featured in the West End show "Such Is Life," where her performance of "Burn My Candle" garnered significant acclaim. This led to a recording contract with Philips Records, and she released her first single in 1956. Over the decades, Bassey became renowned for her powerful voice and emotional delivery, recording numerous albums, including "The Bewitching Miss Bassey" and "Born to Sing the Blues." She is particularly famous for singing the theme songs for three James Bond films, making her the only artist to perform more than one.
Personal Life
Bassey’s personal life has been marked by both triumph and tragedy. She was married twice, first to Kenneth Hume and later to Sergio Novak, with whom she adopted her grand-nephew. Bassey has two daughters, Sharon and Samantha, the latter of whom tragically passed away in 1985. Despite the challenges, Bassey has remained a beloved figure in music, celebrated for her contributions and resilience.
Legacy
Bassey has received numerous accolades, including being appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire and a Knight of the Legion of Honour in France. She has performed for royal events, including the Queen's Golden Jubilee and her 90th birthday celebrations. In recognition of her impact on music and culture, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama named a studio in her honor, solidifying her legacy as one of the most iconic vocalists in Britain.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
I Am What I Am1984
- 1.What Now My Love3:00
- 2.Something3:32
- 3.As Long as He Needs Me3:52
- 4.Kiss Me Honey Honey3:41
- 5.As I Love You3:05
- 6.Big Spender2:04
- 7.Send In the Clowns3:57
- 8.I Am What I Am3:14
- 9.Goldfinger2:52
- 10.I (Who Have Nothing)2:55
- 11.Natalie4:15
- 12.And I Love You So4:36
- 13.Never, Never, Never4:31
- 14.For All We Know2:37
- 15.This Is My Life3:53
- 16.If You Don’t Understand4:09
All by Myself1982
- 1.All by Myself4:10
- 2.This Masquerade5:12
- 3.If and When2:53
- 4.He’s Out of My Life3:04
- 5.New York State of Mind4:02
- 6.Can You Read My Mind3:12
- 7.Only When I Laugh3:15
- 8.Solitaire4:44
- 9.New York Medley3:26
- 10.We Don’t Cry Out Loud4:10
Yesterdays1978
- 1.My Melancholy Baby2:50
- 2.I’m in the Mood for Love3:31
- 3.I’ve Got You Under My Skin3:14
- 4.Time After Time3:11
- 5.Don’t Get Around Much Anymore2:48
- 6.There I’ve Said It Again2:35
- 7.You Made Me Love You2:56
- 8.Over the Rainbow4:03
- 9.Taking a Chance on Love2:19
- 10.As Time Goes By3:30
- 11.I Only Have Eyes for You2:57
- 12.Love Is Here to Stay3:06
You Take My Heart Away1977
- 1.You Take My Heart Away3:20
- 2.Perfect Strangers3:32
- 3.Sometimes2:59
- 4.This One’s for You3:27
- 5.Silly Love Songs3:30
- 6.Stargazer2:21
- 7.Can’t Help Falling in Love3:00
- 8.I Let You Let Me Down Again3:26
- 9.If2:58
- 10.Come In From the Rain4:00
- 11.I Need to Be in Love3:28
- 12.C’est la vie2:52
Love, Life and Feelings1976
- 1.What I Did for Love3:47
- 2.The Hungry Years4:36
- 3.Born to Lose5:46
- 4.Everything That Touches You3:22
- 5.Isn't It a Shame3:47
- 6.Midnight Blue4:11
- 7.The Way That I Want to Touch You3:17
- 8.Natali5:02
- 9.You've Made Me So Very Happy3:41
- 10.Alone Again (Naturally)4:54
- 11.Feelings4:46
- 12.If I Never Sing Another Song4:04
Good, Bad but Beautiful1975
- 1.Emotion4:18
- 2.Send in the Clowns3:22
- 3.Good, Bad but Beautiful3:25
- 4.Sing3:27
- 5.The Way We Were2:49
- 6.I'll Be Your Audience3:05
- 7.Feel Like Makin' Love3:38
- 8.All in Love Is Fair3:56
- 9.Run on and on and On3:25
- 10.The Other Side of Me3:42
- 11.Jesse3:53
- 12.Living3:41
Nobody Does It Like Me1974
- 1.Leave a Little Room3:53
- 2.When You Smile3:33
- 3.All That Love Went to Waste3:12
- 4.Davy3:30
- 5.I'm Not Anyone3:49
- 6.Morning in Your Eyes4:57
- 7.The Trouble With Hello Is Goodbye2:56
- 8.Nobody Does It Like Me2:18
- 9.I'm Nothing Without You2:50
- 10.You Are the Sunshine of My Life3:30
Never, Never, Never1973
- 1.Never, Never, Never (Grande, Grande, Grande)3:35
- 2.Baby I’m-a Want You2:49
- 3.Someone Who Cares2:51
- 4.The Old Fashioned Way3:03
- 5.I Won’t Last a Day Without You3:25
- 6.Somehow2:19
- 7.There’s No Such Thing as Love2:59
- 8.Killing Me Softly With His Song4:29
- 9.Going, Going, Gone2:10
- 10.No Regrets4:25
- 11.Together3:12
- 12.Make the World a Little Younger3:34
I Capricorn1972
- 1.I Capricorn4:29
- 2.The Look of Love3:06
- 3.The Way a Woman Loves3:06
- 4.Love3:25
- 5.Where Am I Going3:14
- 6.I've Never Been a Woman Before2:40
- 7.For All We Know2:44
- 8.The Greatest Performance of My Life3:29
- 9.Where Is Love3:34
- 10.Losing My Mind2:48
- 11.One Less Bell to Answer2:27
- 12.Lost and Lonely2:46
And I Love You So1972
- 1.Someday4:56
- 2.Bless the Beasts and Children3:05
- 3.Jezahel2:48
- 4.And I Love You So4:30
- 5.The Way of Love2:34
- 6.The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face4:33
- 7.Day by Day2:48
- 8.Without You3:31
- 9.Ballad of the Sad Young Men5:26
- 10.I Don’t Know How to Love Him4:14
- 11.I’d Do It All Again3:31
- 12.If We Only Have Love3:49
Something Else1971
- 1.(Where Do I Begin) Love Story3:17
- 2.’til Love Touches Your Life3:44
- 3.Easy Thing to Do4:23
- 4.Until It’s Time for You to Go4:08
- 5.It’s Impossible2:48
- 6.What’s Done Is Done3:04
- 7.Pieces of Dreams2:46
- 8.Breakfast in Bed3:39
- 9.Excuse Me2:29
- 10.Bridge Over Troubled Water5:10
- 11.I’m Not There3:04
- 12.I’d Like to Hate Myself in the Morning (And Raise a Little Hell)2:52
Something1970
- 1.Something3:32
- 2.Spinning Wheel3:04
- 3.Yesterday I Heard the Rain3:27
- 4.The Sea and Sand3:58
- 5.My Way3:34
- 6.What About Today?3:08
- 7.You and I3:52
- 8.Light My Fire3:25
- 9.Easy to Be Hard2:37
- 10.Life Goes On2:36
- 11.What Are You Doing the Rest of Life?2:52
- 12.Yesterday, When I Was Young3:52
Shirley1969
Tracklist not collected yet.
Does Anybody Miss Me1969
Tracklist not collected yet.
12 of Those Songs1968
Tracklist not collected yet.
This Is My Life1968
Tracklist not collected yet.
And We Were Lovers1967
Tracklist not collected yet.
I’ve Got a Song for You1966
Tracklist not collected yet.
Shirley Stops the Shows1965
Tracklist not collected yet.
Let's Face the Music1962
Tracklist not collected yet.
Shirley Bassey Sings The Hit Song From Oliver Plus Other Popular Selections1962
Tracklist not collected yet.
Shirley Bassey1961
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Bewitching Miss Bassey1959
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Fabulous Shirley Bassey1959
Tracklist not collected yet.
Born to Sing the Blues1957
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Philips Records
- Record label
- Columbia Records
- Record label
- United Artists Records
- Record label
- Decca
- Record label
- Geffen Records
Achievements
- Award
- Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Award
- Knight of the Legion of Honour
- Award
- Order of the Companions of Honour
- Award
- Knight of the Order of Saint-Charles
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Dame Shirley Bassey, Shirley Bassy, Shrily Bassey
Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey 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 officially. Bassey is one of the most popular vocalists in Britain.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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