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nown to Americans most for her belting rendition of the theme to Goldfinger, the 1964 edition in the James Bond series(as well as 1971'sDiamonds Are Forever and 1979's Moonraker), Shirley Bassey was one of the most popular femalevocalists in Britain during the last half ofthe 20th century. Known as Bassey the Belter and also the Tigress of Tiger Bay,her early career in touring shows and cabaret brought her arecording contract with Philips by the late '50s. After reachingthe top of the British charts in 1959 with "As I Love You" and later "Reachfor the Stars/Climb Every Mountain," Basseywas tap ...read more
nown to Americans most for her belting rendition of the theme to Goldfinger, the 1964 edition in the James Bond series(as well as 1971'sDiamonds Are Forever and 1979's Moonraker), Shirley Bassey was one of the most popular femalevocalists in Britain during the last half ofthe 20th century. Known as Bassey the Belter and also the Tigress of Tiger Bay,her early career in touring shows and cabaret brought her arecording contract with Philips by the late '50s. After reachingthe top of the British charts in 1959 with "As I Love You" and later "Reachfor the Stars/Climb Every Mountain," Basseywas tapped to swing the theme song to the third James Bond vehicle. Her voice, brassy andsexy, conveyed the JamesBond myth perfectly and became a big hit in America. Though later chart placings in the U.S. were few, shecontinued todo well in Great Britain, France and the Netherlands into the mid-'70s.
Born in January 1937 in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, Wales, Shirley Bassey was the youngest of seven children. Her parents, aNigerian sailor and anEnglish woman, divorced before she was three years old, but they kept the family together for themost part, and Shirley was able to singduets with her brother at family get-togethers. After finishing school, she found ajob at a local factory, and earned extra money singing atmen's clubs after-hours. Bassey traveled around the country inrevues during the early '50s, and made her big breakout in 1955 at aLondon Christmas show given by comedian Al Read(though it was promoted by bandleader Jack Hylton, who had caught Bassey's act at thenearby Albany Club). Soon after,Shirley Bassey began appearing in Read's revue, Such Is Life. The show ran for over a year, and gained hera recordingcontract for Philips Records. "Banana Boat Song" hit the British Top Ten in early 1957, followed by her number one hits,1959's"As I Love You" and 1961's "Reach for the Stars/Climb Every Mountain." A 1962 pairing with arranger NelsonRiddle increased herprestige in America, and a vaunted live show gained her headlining spots in both New York and LasVegas during the early '60s. Popularrecognition in the United States came in early 1965, when "Goldfinger" hit numbereight in the American charts, instantly becoming hersignature song across the Atlantic. (Strangely though, it missed eventhe Top 20 in Great Britain.)
Bassey's hits in the U.K. continued into the mid-'70s, led by Top Ten entries such as "Something," "For All We Know" and"Never NeverNever." After the crowning achievement of her career, a 1977 Britannia Award for Best Female Solo Singerin the Last 50 Years, ShirleyBassey gained her own highly rated BBC-TV show in the late '70s, but gradually slowed downher busy schedule during the next decade.Semi-retired to Switzerland by 1981, she nevertheless emerged quitefrequently, spurred by the recording of several television specials andLPs, including a 1987 date with the synth-pop groupYello. Bassey became much more visible during the '90s, opening a nightclub inCardiff, and touring the world severaltimes. « hide |
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