Shirley Bassey Totally Explained

Everything about Shirley Bassey totally explained

Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey DBE, CBE (born 8 January 1937, Cardiff, Wales) is a Welsh singer. She performed the theme songs to the James Bond films Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Moonraker (1979). She is the only singer to have recorded more than one James Bond theme song. Bassey is an international artist who has sold 135 million records worldwide, her single "Goldfinger" selling over a million copies alone. In 1961, John F. Kennedy invited Bassey to sing at his Inaguration Ball at the White House. Bassey has accumulated 20 silver discs for sales in Britain, Holland and France, and some fifty-plus gold discs for international record sales.

Life and career

Birth to 1960

Bassey was born on 8 January 1937 at 182 Bute Street, Tiger Bay, Cardiff, to a Nigerian sailor father and a mother from Yorkshire, who divorced when she was three . She grew up in the working-class dockside district of Tiger Bay as the youngest of seven children. After leaving Moorland School at the age of fifteen, Bassey first found employment packing at a local factory while singing in local pubs and clubs in the evenings and weekends. In 1953, she signed up for the revue Memories of Jolson, a musical based on the life of Al Jolson. She next took up a professional engagement in Hot from Harlem, which ran until 1954. By this time Bassey had become disenchanted with show business, and had become pregnant at 16 with her daughter Sharon, so she went back to waitressing in Cardiff. However, in 1955, a chance recommendation of her to Michael Sullivan, a Streatham-born booking agent, put her firmly on course for her destined career. He saw talent in Bassey, and decided he'd make her a star. She toured various theatres until she got an offer of the show that put her firmly on the road to stardom, Al Read's Such Is Life at the Adelphi Theatre in London's West End. While she starred in this show, Philips A&R and record producer Johnny Franz spotted her on television, was impressed, and offered her a record deal. Bassey recorded her first single, entitled "Burn My Candle", and Philips released it in February 1956, when Bassey was just nineteen. Owing to the suggestive lyrics, the BBC banned it, but it sold well nonetheless, backed with her powerful rendition of "Stormy Weather". Further singles followed, and in February 1957, Bassey had her first hit with "Banana Boat Song", which reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart. During that year, she also recorded under the direction of U.S. producer Mitch Miller in America for the Columbia label, producing the single "If I Had a Needle and Thread" b/w "Tonight My Heart She Is Crying". In mid-1958, she recorded two singles that would become classics in the Bassey catalogue: "As I Love You" appeared as a B-side to another ballad, "Hands Across the Sea". It didn't sell well at first, but after a chance appearance at the London Palladium things began to pick up. In February 1959, it reached number one and stayed there for four weeks. Bassey also recorded "Kiss Me, Honey Honey, Kiss Me" at this point, and while "As I Love You" raced up the charts, so too did this record, with both songs being in the top three at the same time. A few months later, Bassey signed to EMI Columbia, and the second phase in her recording career had begun.

1960 to 1980

Throughout the 1960s, Bassey had numerous hits on the British charts. Her recording of "As Long As He Needs Me" from Lionel Bart's Oliver! reached number two, and had a chart run of 30 weeks. In 1962, Bassey's collaboration with Nelson Riddle and his orchestra produced the album Let's Face the Music (#12) and the single "What Now My Love" (#5). Other top ten hits of the period included the number-one "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" b/w "Reach for the Stars" in 1961, and "I (Who Have Nothing)" in 1963. In 1965, Bassey had her only U.S. top ten hit with the title song of the James Bond film, Goldfinger. Owing to the success of that song, she appeared frequently on many American television talk shows such as those hosted by Johnny Carson and by Mike Douglas. In 1968, Bassey performed her song "This Is My Life" at the San Remo Festival in Italy and a version of the song with chorus sung in Italian became a top ten hit on the Italian chart. Bassey lived as a tax exile for two years in Switzerland from 1968 to 1970, finally returning to the UK in 1970 with a record breaking run of performances at the Talk of the Town nightclub. She signed with the United Artists label in the late sixties and in 1970 released the album Something which showcased a new Bassey style (the single of the same name was more successful in the UK charts than the original Beatles recording). The success of "Something" (single #4, album #5) spawned a series of successful albums on the UA label, including Something Else (1971), And I Love You So (1972), I, Capricorn (1972) Never, Never, Never (1973), Good, Bad but Beautiful (1975), Life, Love and Feelings (1976), You Take My Heart Away (1977) and Yesterdays (1978). Two compilations, The Shirley Bassey Singles Album (1975) and 25th Anniversary Album (1978) both made the UK top three. Her 1979 album The Magic Is You featured a portrait by celebrated photograher Francesco Scavullo. Singles of this period included top ten hits "For All We Know" (1971) and "Never Never Never" (1973). 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 and the majority of her recordings from this period have been re-mastered and released on CD by EMI and BGO Records. In 1971, she recorded the title theme for Diamonds Are Forever. The recording featured as part of the main celebration in Sydney, Australia's 2007 New Year's celebration. Bassey recorded her third title theme for the Bond films with Moonraker in 1979. Between 1970 and 1979, Bassey had 18 hit albums in the UK charts and starred in two highly rated BBC TV series in 1976 and 1979, which featured guests including Neil Diamond, Michel Legrand, and Dusty Springfield. The shows were filmed in various locations throughout the world as well as in the studio.

1980 onwards

Throughout most of the 1980s, Bassey focused on charitable works and performing occasional concert tours throughout Europe and the United States, having ended her contract with EMI and taking what she referred to as 'semi-retirement'. However, her singles sales were such that she remained the UK's biggest-selling artist throughout this period, until finally overtaken by Madonna at the close of the decade. Bassey was now recording far less often but released an album in 1984 of her most famous songs, I Am What I Am, performed with the London Symphony Orchestra. In 1986, she released a single and video to support the London Tourist Board called "There's No Place Like London". In 1987, she provided vocals for Swiss artists Yello on "The Rhythm Divine", a song co-written by Scottish singer Billy Mackenzie which re-engaged her with a younger audience, and has since become a cult classic. Also in 1987, she released an album La Mujer sung entirely in Spanish. In 1995, Bassey became only the second artist to give a concert at the Pyramids in Egypt. In 1996, she collaborated with Chris Rea in the movie La Passione appearing in the film as herself and releasing the single "Disco La Passione". The remix of this single proved a major club hit throughout Europe, and perhaps encouraged Bassey to release a new recording the following year "History Repeating" with the Propellerheads, scoring a number-one ranking on the British dance music chart, and again introducing Bassey to a new generation of fans. The single also reached the top five in Spain, Italy and Germany. The liner notes of the Propellerheads' album Decksandrumsandrockandroll included the lines 'We would like to extend our maximum respect to Shirley Bassey for honouring us with her performance. We are still in shock...'. The track also featured in the movie, There's Something About Mary, and in a worldwide advertising campaign for Jaguar Cars. Bassey celebrated her 60th birthday in the same year with two open air concerts at Castle Howard and Althorp Park, and yet another TV special. The resulting live album The Birthday Concert received a Grammy Award nomination for "Best Traditional Vocal Performance". During her UK Tour in 1998, 120,000 people saw Bassey live and she smashed her own record in London for the longest run by a solo artist at the Royal Festival Hall with ten sold-out shows. In 1999, she recorded the official song for the Rugby World Cup, "World in Union", with Bryn Terfel and performed at the opening ceremony at The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. Bassey contributed three songs to the official album Land of My Fathers and Bassey again enjoyed number-one success, as it peaked on the UK compilation chart. In 2003, Bassey celebrated 50 years in show business and released the CD Thank You for the Years which was anothet top 20 album for her. A gala charity auction of her stage costumes at Christie's "Dame Shirley Bassey: 50 Years of Glittering Gowns" expected to raise around £70,000 in fact raised £250,000 (US$500,000) for the Dame Shirley Bassey Scholarship at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama together with the Noah's Ark Children's Hospital Appeal.

Recent developments

Bassey again topped the bill at the 2005 Royal Variety Performance, introducing a new song "The Living Tree". Two popular Audiences with Shirley Bassey have also aired on British TV, the first attracted more than 10 millions viewers in the UK alone, and the most recent 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 Terfel Faenol Festival in North Wales broadcast by BBC Wales. "Where Do I Begin (Away Team Remix)," from Shirley's 2001 remix album, The Remix Album: Diamonds Are Forever, is featured in one episode of Showtime's The L Word Season 2, and on Season 1 of Nip/Tuck on the FX Network. Marks & Spencer signed her for their Christmas 2006 "James Bond style" TV advertising campaign. Bassey is seen in a glamorous Ice Palace singing a cover version of Pink's song, "Get the Party Started" wearing an M&S gown. The advert, launched in November 2006, also includes famous models, such as Twiggy. "The Living Tree", written, produced and originally recorded by the group Never the Bride, was released as a single on 23 April 2007. This release marked Bassey's 50th anniversary in the singles chart and gave her the record for the longest span of top 40 hits in UK chart history. A new album Get the Party Started was released on 25 June 2007, and entered the UK charts at number six. Shirley Bassey made an appearance at the 2007 Glastonbury Festival. Wearing a pink Julien MacDonald dress, she performed a 45 minute set to riotous applause. The same year, Bassey performed "Big Spender" with Elton John at his annual White Tie and Tiara Ball to raise money for The Elton John AIDS Foundation. In August 2007, Bassey signed a new recording contract with Universal Music's Decca Records and has been reported soon to be collaborating with Pink.. Also in 2007, DSB performed in "Fashion Rocks" in aid of The Prince's Trust at the Royal Albert Hall.

Awards

In recognition of her career longevity, and a particular admiration from the Royal Family, Bassey was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) on 31 December 1999 by HM Queen Elizabeth II. She was invited to perform in 2002 at the Party at the Palace, a public celebration of The Queen's Golden Jubilee of 50 years on the throne. She was also awarded France's top honour, the Legion d'Honneur, to signify her enduring popularity and importance in the culture of France. She now resides in Monaco and has recently sold her London apartment - many of its furnishings were auctioned for charity. On 16 December 2007 Dame Shirley celebrated her 70th birthday with a party for friends at Cliveden.

1972 - Best female singer - TV Times, UK
1973 - Best female singer - TV Times, UK
1974 - Best female entertainer - American Guild of Variety Artists
1976 - Best female singer - Music Week, UK
1977 - Best British female solo singer in the last 50 years of recorded sound - (BRIT Awards winner)
1991 - Walk Of Fame Starboulevard - plaque unveiled in Rotterdam
1993 - CBE - Commander of the British Empire
1995 - Showbusiness personality of the year - Variety Club of Great Britain
1996 - Europe's Lifetime Achievement Award - Ceremony held in Germany
1997 - Grammy nomination - for the Birthday Concert (recorded live at Althorp Park)
1997 - Diamond Award - Belgium
1999 - Legion d'Honneur - France (Her Paris debut as late as 1974)
1999 - DBE - Dame of the British Empire
1999 - Madam Tussauds - waxwork unveiled in London (second model on display in Las Vegas)
2003 - Outstanding contribution to music - National Music Awards, UK
2003 - Woman of the Year - Western Mail Welsh Woman of the Year Awards
2004 - Greatest Black Briton, Shirley voted into the top ten - BBC
2004 - Artist for Peace Award - UNESCO
2005 - Avenue of Stars - plaque unveiled in London
2008 - Special Grammy Award, induction to the Grammy Hall of Fame - USA

Personal life

Bassey's first marriage was to Kenneth Hume (from 1961 to 1965) and ended in divorce. Her second husband was Sergio Novak. Bassey and Novak were married from 1968 until they divorced in 1977; Novak served as Bassey's manager for this period of time. Bassey has two daughters and one adopted son. Her first daughter Sharon was born when Bassey was seventeen. Bassey's second daughter, Samantha, was found dead in 1985 after apparently having jumped from the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, England. Bassey has always insisted the death of her daughter wasn't suicide.

Discography

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