Shirley Bassey
Born on Bute Street in Butetown (also known as 'Tiger Bay') in the docklands area of Cardiff, she was was the sixth and youngest child of Henry Bassey, from Nigeria, and Eliza Jane Start, from the north-east of England, but grew up in the adjacent community of Splott.
After leaving Splott Secondary Modern School at the age of 14, Bassey found work at the local Curran Steels factory, while singing in public houses and clubs in the evenings and on weekends. In 1953, she signed her first professional contract and went on to work for the impresario Jack Hylton. She recorded her first single in 1956.
Filmography (46 Appearances)
I Can't Give You Anything But Love: The Jimmy McHugh Story
60 Songs: BBC Two at 60
The Sound of 007: Live from the Royal Albert Hall
The Sound of 007
The Art of Dissent
St David's Day at the BBC
David Walliams Celebrates Dame Shirley Bassey
More Dangerous Songs: And the Banned Played On
Everything or Nothing
The Diamond Jubilee Concert 2012
…Sings Musicals
Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes
…Sings Neil Diamond
Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall
Dame Shirley Bassey: BBC Electric Proms
The Graham Norton Show
Another Audience with Shirley Bassey
Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace
An Audience with Des O'Connor
Shirley Bassey: Divas Are Forever
The Bond Sound: The Music of 007
Parkinson
La Passione
The World of James Bond
An Audience with Shirley Bassey
Shirley Bassey - You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet
Bei Bio
Summertime Special
Shirley Bassey: A Special Lady
An Audience with...
Auf los geht's los
Shirley Bassey
The Muppet Show
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Ein Kessel Buntes
Le Grand Échiquier
Disco
Wünsch dir was
Night-Club
Europarty
The Danny Kaye Show
Viña del Mar International Song Festival
The Mike Douglas Show
The Bing Crosby Show
Morecambe & Wise
The Ed Sullivan Show