Not long after this Dame Shirley's big break came when she was spotted by British bandleader Jack Hylton. That Christmas she performed with Al Read in the 1955 show 'Such is Life' at London's Adelphi Theatre. The show ran for a year and Dame Shirley never looked back.
Within a couple of years chart success came to Dame Shirley, first with the smash hit Banana Boat Song and this was quickly followed with As I love You and Kiss me Honey Honey.
During the sixties Dame Shirley performed on both sides of the Atlantic where her concerts were always sell-outs. In 1964 she recorded the theme tune to the James Bond film Goldfinger. The song become a worldwide hit and sold over a million copies in the US alone. Another two James Bond films followed - Diamonds are Forever and Moonraker and by end of this run Dame Shirley was well and truly established in every continent.
Since the sixties Dame Shirley Bassey has remained at the top of her profession. In the early 70's the album Something was released and it became the biggest selling album of her career thus far. Dame Shirley's career has gone from strength to strength releasing several more albums and continuing to be in huge demand by audiences all over the world.
The CBE was awarded to Dame Shirley in 1993 at Buckingham Palace and also in this year the album 'Songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber' was released. In 1997 to celebrate her 60th birthday on stage Dame Shirley performed two outdoor extravaganza shows. Held in both Castle Howard and Althorp Park they were recorded and released as an album so that fans across the world could share in the celebrations.
When the Rugby World Cup came to Wales in 1999, the Welsh Flag Dress was donned she and joined with Bryn Terfel lo sing the World in Union at the officially opening ceremony. When the 2000 New Years Honours List was published it was announced that Shirley was to become a Dame.
In 2003 Dame Shirley celebrated a magnificent 50 years in Show Business and to mark this Christies of London held an auction of 50 of her wonderful gowns, In an interview with Hello magazine last year. Dame Shirley now speaks of her calm and happiness. "It's true. This is my happiest time ever," she says. "I've just recorded a new album, Thank You For The Years, and I'm thrilled with it. I've been on an incredible journey and I've survived.
Photos of Dame Shirley Bassey used within the Noah's Ark event programme and accompanying pieces are © Dave Spencer.
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