Happy 78th birthday to Welsh singer Shirley Bassey, called one of the most popular female vocalists in Britain during the last half of the 20th century and best known in the U.S. for recording the theme songs to the James Bond films Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Moonraker (1979). From Tiger Bay, Cardiff, Wales, Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey had a Nigerian seaman father, while her mother came from Yorkshire, Northern England. Bassey grew up in the notorious Tiger Bay area of Cardiff as the youngest of six children. Her father left when she was just two years old. She first found employment packing in a local factory when she left school at the age of fifteen. Her first professional job was at 16 in the touring revue Memories Of Al Jolson. Her Top ten UK hits began with Banana Boat Song 1957, Kiss Me Honey Honey Kiss Me no. 3 1958; first no. 1 As I Love You 1959; no. 2 in 1960 with As Long As He Needs Me from Oliver!; Youll Never Know no. 6, Ill Get By no. 10, Reach For The Stars/Climb Every Mountain no. 1, all in 1961. Her real talent was on stage, with dynamic singing, extravagant gestures, often in a backless, side less and strapless gown keeping the audience in suspense. Her smash hit work in Persian Room NYC 1961 established her as live act in USA, but her only top 40 entry there was theme from Bond film Goldfinger (no. 8 1965). Bassey continued to find success in the UK with hits throughout the 1960s. and 70s. On December 31, 1999, For services to entertainment, Bassey was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II. This past November Bassey released a new album entitled Hello Like Before. It includes a 50th anniversary re-recording of Goldfinger (recreating the original orchestration) and a duet of Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 17:49:13 +0000
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