| Born in January 1937 in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, Wales, Shirley Bassey was the youngest of seven children. Known to Americans most for her belting rendition of the theme to "Goldfinger" the 1964 edition in the James Bond series (as well as 1971's "Diamonds Are Forever" and 1979's "Moonraker"). Shirley Bassey was one of the most popular female vocalists in Britain during the last half of the 20th century. In 1979 the sassy Miss Bassey tackled the disco forum with a discotized remake of her own hit "This Is My Life (La Vita)" backed with a sizzling version of Barry Manilow's "Copacabana." Both were splendid covers and did wonders for her career. Shirl, never one to shy away from a challenge, once again took on disco dancefloors in 1987 with the avant-garde group Yello and the track "One Second" and then a decade later in 1997 with the Propellerheads and the massive hit "History Repeating." Bassey semi-retired in the 1980's but became much more visible during the 1990's, opening a nightclub in Cardiff, and touring the world several times. |
