Born in Cardiff, Wales on January 8, 1937, singer Shirley Bassey has made a distinction of recording
more than one James Bond theme song such as
Goldfinger, Diamonds are Forever, and
Moonraker. The million-selling Welsh singer once worked as a packer in a factory while singing in pubs every night and weekends before having a break when an agent took her in and began touring in theaters. While appearing on television Philips producer Johnny Franz saw her and was impressed so he signed the then teenaged Bassey for a record deal. She scored her first UK hit with
The Banana Boat Song in 1957. The twice-divorced Bassey was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire on December 31, 1999. She now lives in Monaco.