https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REpK_1Anu1k



(BE SURE TO HEAR HER SING THE LAST SONG "I AM WHAT I AM")

Shirley Bassey at Wembley Arena, 2006
Background information
Birth name Shirley Veronica Bassey
Born 8 January 1937 (1937-01-08) (age 73)
Tiger Bay, Cardiff, Wales
Genres Popular music
Occupations Singer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1953–present
Labels Philips, Columbia, United Artists, Decca, Geffen

Bassey's first marriage was to Kenneth Hume (1961–65) and ended in divorce. In September 1965 Bassey announced her intention to re-marry Hume, but less than a year later revealed that this would not take place.[27] Her second husband was Sergio Novak. Bassey and Novak were married from 1968 until they divorced in 1977; Novak served as Bassey's manager throughout this time. Bassey had two daughters and, with Novak, adopted her grandnephew.[6][7] Bassey has never revealed the identity of the father of her daughters. In 1985 Bassey's second daughter, Samantha, was found dead in the River Avon in Bristol, England. Bassey has always maintained that the death of her daughter was not a suicide.[4]

She currently resides in Monte Carlo.
[edit] Awards and achievements

In recognition of her career longevity, and admiration from the British 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. She was awarded France's top honour, the Legion d'Honneur, to signify her popularity and importance in the culture of France.

* 1972 – Best Female Singer – TV Times
* 1973 – Best Female Singer – TV Times
* 1974 – Best Female Entertainer – American Guild of Variety Artists
* 1976 – Best Female Singer – Music Week
* 1976 – 22-day British tour to mark twenty years as a recording artist
* 1976 – EMI Award for twenty years as a recording artist – UK
* 1977 – Best British Female Solo Artist in the previous 25 years – BRIT Award
* 1977 – Golden Rose of Montreux nomination for The Shirley Bassey Show
* 1991 – Walk of Fame, Star Boulevard – plaque unveiled in Rotterdam[28]
* 1993 – CBE – Commander of the Order of the British Empire
* 1995 – Showbusiness Personality of the Year – Variety Club of Great Britain
* 1997 – Grammy nomination – The Birthday Concert (recorded live at Althorp Park)
* 1998 – Longest run by a solo artist (ten shows) – Royal Festival Hall, London
* 1999 – Légion d'Honneur – France
* 1999 – Madam Tussaud's waxwork unveiled in London (second model in Las Vegas)
* 2000 – DBE – Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
* 2000 – Most Successful British Female Singer – Guinness Book of Records
* 2003 – Outstanding Contribution to Music – National Music Awards, UK[29]
* 2003 – Lifetime Achievement Award (inaugural award) – Western Mail Welsh Woman of the Year Awards[30]
* 2004 – 100 Great Black Britons, Bassey voted into the top ten
* 2004 – Artist for Peace Award – UNESCO
* 2005 – Avenue of Stars – plaque unveiled in London
* 2008 – "Goldfinger" – United Artists single (1964) inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame[31]

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