Shirley Bassey Biography: Husband, Age, Children, Net Worth, Height, Songs, Albums, Parents

Shirley Bassey is a Welsh singer who came to fame, particularly through her iconic recording of the James Bond theme “Goldfinger.”

Over a career stretching more than seven decades, she carved out a reputation as one of the most enduring vocal talents in British popular music.

Her recordings of Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, and Moonraker cemented her status internationally, while her success in the UK charts and her ability to command live performances have kept her name alive across generations.

Profile

• Full name: Shirley Veronica Bassey
• Date of birth: January 8, 1937
• Age: 88 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Tiger Bay, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
• State of origin: Wales
• Nationality: British/Welsh
• Profession: Singer
• Height: 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
• Parents: Henry Bassey (father), Eliza Jane Start (mother)
• Siblings: She grew up with sisters, two half-sisters, and a brother
• Spouse: Kenneth Hume (m. 1961–1965), Sergio Novak (m. 1968–1979)
• Children: Sharon (born 1954), Samantha (born 1963, deceased 1985)
• Relationship status: N/A
• Ethnicity: Welsh/Black British descent (father Nigerian, mother English)
• Net worth: USD 10 million

Early Life and Education

Shirley Bassey was born on January 8, 1937, in the Tiger Bay district of Cardiff, Wales.

She is now 88 years old.

Her father, Henry Bassey, was of Nigerian origin, while her mother, Eliza Jane Start, was English.

She was the youngest child in a large, blended household that included siblings from her mother’s earlier relationships as well as children she shared with her father.

She spent her early years in the Splott area of Cardiff.

At school (Moorland Road School and then Splott secondary), her strong voice was noticed early, though she later reported being discouraged by teachers who told her to “back off” when she tried to sing in class.

She left formal schooling around age 14 and took work at a steel factory (Curran Steels) to help support herself.

Meanwhile, she began singing in pubs and local clubs on evenings and weekends.

Personal Life

Shirley Bassey married Kenneth Hume in 1961.

That marriage ended in divorce in 1965, amid reports of her affair with the actor Peter Finch during the marriage.

Finch’s wife later cited Bassey and others as co-respondents in divorce proceedings.

In 1968 she married Sergio Novak, who had been her manager and formerly assistant manager at the Excelsior Hotel in Venice.

They remained married until 1979.

During this marriage, they legally adopted Mark, who was her grand-nephew.

She had two daughters: Sharon (born in 1954) and Samantha (born in 1963).

Samantha died in 1985 under circumstances that have been subject to speculation and some media reporting of possible foul play, though no conclusive public resolution is certain.

Sharon survives, and through her Bassey has grandchildren (four grandsons) and as of reports, a great-granddaughter.

Career

Shirley Bassey’s professional singing career began in 1953, when she signed a contract to tour in Memories of Jolson.

She soon appeared in variety shows and made her first records, performing in local venues before being discovered by British impresario Jack Hylton and record producer Johnny Franz.

Her 1956 single “Burn My Candle” was her early recording, though it was banned by the BBC for its suggestive lyrics.

Her breakthrough came with “As I Love You,” which in 1959 became the first number-one single by a Welsh artist in the UK charts.

Throughout the 1960s, Bassey built her reputation with a mix of pop, jazz, and dramatic ballads.

In 1964 she recorded “Goldfinger,” establishing the first of three official James Bond theme songs she would record (later Diamonds Are Forever in 1971 and Moonraker in 1979).

In addition to her Bond themes, she scored hits with songs like “Big Spender” (1967), and she charted multiple successful albums in the UK.

She also performed widely around the world and released live albums, notably Live at Carnegie Hall.

In later decades, Bassey continued recording and performing.

In 1997, her track “History Repeating,” made with Propellerheads, became a hit in the dance charts.

In 2009, she released the album The Performance, featuring contemporary songwriters writing especially for her.

In 2020, Bassey became the first female artist to chart a Top 40 album in the UK in seven consecutive decades.

She has remained active in performing special concerts and events.

Awards

• Grammy Hall of Fame – Goldfinger (single)
• Best British Female Solo Artist at the 1st Brit Awards (1977)
• Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1994
• Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2000
• Knight of France’s Legion of Honour (2003)
• Freedom of the City of Cardiff (2019)
• Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (2024)

Net Worth

Shirley Bassey’s net worth is approximately USD 10 million.

This wealth has been earned through her extensive catalog of recordings, royalties (especially from her famous Bond theme songs), live performances, television specials, and royalties from licensing.

Controversy

Shirley Bassey has been involved in some controversies over the years.

Her divorce from Kenneth Hume was public and complicated by claims of affairs, including her relationship with Peter Finch, which were litigated in divorce proceedings.

She was once sued by a former personal assistant in 1998 over alleged breach of contract and accusations of mistreatment; Bassey won the case.

The death of her daughter Samantha in 1985 has also been the subject of speculation and informal inquiry, though no definitive public conclusion has been reached.

Social Media

• N/A

Discography

• Burn My Candle (1956)
• As I Love You (1958)
• Shirley Bassey (1959)
• The Fabulous Shirley Bassey (1959)
• Let’s Face the Music (1962)
• I (Who Have Nothing) (1963)
• And We Were Lovers (1967)
• Something (1970)
• Never Never Never (1973)
• Good, Bad but Beautiful (1975)
• Love, Life and Feelings (1976)
• You Take My Heart Away (1977)
• Yesterdays (1978)
• The Magic Is You (1979)
• The Performance (2009)
• Hello Like Before (2014)
• I Owe It All to You (2020)