On this day, 8 Jan 1937, Cardiff singing legend Shirley Bassey was born.
Her career began in 1953, and her powerful and expressive voice and performances have made her a truly world star.
Bassey grew up living in the Splott district of Cardiff, the sixth and youngest child of a Nigerian father and a mother from Teesside.
Her teachers at Moreland Road School soon noticed her strong voice but gave the young Bassey little encouragement.
Leaving school at 14 she spent her weekends and evenings singing in local pubs and clubs.
She signed her first contract at the age of 16 with a salary of £10 a week singing in a touring variety show.
In 1955 she came to the notice of leading impresario Jack Hylton, and a break into London’s West End.
Recording her first single “Burn My Candle” in 1956, it was banned by the BBC, due to the suggestive lyrics, but got her first hit with “The Banana Boat Song” reaching no 8 in the UK charts.
She achieved her first no 1 in Jan 1959 with “As I Love You” the first by a Welsh artist.
Bassey enjoyed great success during the 60s and 70s recording three James Bond title songs “Goldfinger” “Moonraker” and “Diamond Are Forever”.
Still performing, Bassey continues to an inspiration and singing icon and in 2012 was among the British cultural icons to feature on a new artwork by Sir Peter Blake, a version of The Beatles’ Sgt Peppers Lonely Arts Club Band album cover.
She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) Dec 1999.
