Shirley Bassey
- Music Department
- Actress
- Composer
Shirley Bassey was born in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, Wales, and raised in the
nearby working class neighborhood of Splott. Her mother was originally
from Yorkshire, and her father was a Nigerian seaman who left the
family when she was less than two. She later helped to support her
family by working in an Enamelware factory. She made her professional
debut at 16 appearing in a touring revue "Memories of
Al Jolson". Her first major hit was "The
Banana Boat Song," and she later sang "Goldfinger" in the James Bond
movie Goldfinger (1964). Her younger
daughter died of drowning in 1985. She currently lives in Monte Carlo.
