Shirley Bassey
Welsh singer (born 1937) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey CH DBE (/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, Bassey is one of the most popular vocalists in Britain.[2][3]
Shirley Bassey | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bassey in 1971 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Shirley Veronica Bassey |
| Born | (1937-01-08) 8 January 1937 (age 87) Cardiff, Wales |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1953–present |
| Labels | |
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] In 2020, Bassey became the first female artist to chart an album in the Top 40 of the UK Albums Chart in seven consecutive decades with her album I Owe It All To You.[9]
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.[10] Since making her first appearance at the Royal Albert Hall in 1971, she has performed at the venue 45 times.[11] Bassey received the first award for Best British Female Solo Artist at the 1st Brit Awards in 1977.[12] 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.[13]
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.[14][15][16] She is the first woman in history to claim a Top 40 album in seven consecutive decades in the United Kingdom.[17]