Latest news with #ShirleyBassey
Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Iris Williams obituary: Welsh singer compared to Shirley Bassey
In the pantheon of celebrated Welsh female singers, comparisons between Iris Williams and Shirley Bassey were inevitable. Born barely a dozen miles apart in south Wales, both were mixed race, born to white mothers and black fathers, and their chosen career paths followed similar courses. Both possessed big, rich voices and a classy stage elan that stood out on the club circuit at a time when black or mixed-race British singers were a rarity. Both recorded Cleo Laine and Johnny Dankworth's He Was Beautiful, although it was Williams's version that was the Top 20 hit. Popular at royal command performances, both were recognised in the honours list, Bassey first as CBE and then as a Dame, and Williams, who in 2004 was appointed OBE. Yet much as Williams admired Bassey, she found the constant comparisons irritating. 'We're both dark-skinned and come from the Cardiff area but it ends there for me and my style is completely different,' she insisted. 'She is a great singer, with a wonderful voice, but I hate being compared to her and have tried everything to rid myself of it. I want to be me.' Certainly, there were differences as well as the obvious similarities. In Williams's own words she was not as 'gregarious' as Bassey, less inclined towards 'the big belter numbers' and in the view of many her singing boasted a greater emotional depth. 'I don't use half of the voice that she does because I don't need to — as I see it, I am telling a story,' she noted. Yet when she chose to let rip there was no doubting the strength, power and sheer vivacity of her delivery. Terry Wogan, who championed her on his radio shows, was a particular fan of the creamy resonance of what he called her 'basso profundo'. Her singing took her from the factory floor to the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and then into the charts and to her own BBC series. She later moved to the United States but remained proud of her Welsh heritage. Alongside Bassey, Tom Jones and a 13-year-old Charlotte Church, she sang at a concert to mark the opening of the Welsh National Assembly in 1999 in front of an audience that included Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and the future King Charles. 'Wales will always be my great passion,' she said. When she was the subject of a 2002 documentary film on Welsh TV, she gamely insisted on being interviewed in Welsh. She had learnt Welsh as a child but had barely spoken the language in decades and 'brushed up' by practising on her dog Mimi. She was subsequently admitted to the Gorsedd of Bards at the National Eisteddfod of Wales. Her two marriages, to Clive Brandy and Edward Jones, both of whom served as her manager, ended in divorce. 'A lot of female singers make the mistake of making their husband their manager,' she said. 'It generally doesn't work because you should be able to go home and leave work behind. When you're married to your manager all you do is talk showbusiness.' She is survived by her son Blake from her first marriage. She was born in 1946 in Rhydyfelin, near Potypridd, in south Wales, the illegitimate daughter of an African-American GI who was stationed in Britain during the Second World War and who met her mother — who was already married — in a local dance hall. A romance blossomed but the taboo-breaking relationship was doomed and the daughter who resulted was given up for adoption. Williams spent her first five years in a children's home until she was fostered by Bronwen Llewellyn, a miner's wife from Tonyrefail, who encouraged her to sing. She was subsequently reunited with her birth mother and a half-brother in the mid-1980s after she found them via an advert placed in a local newspaper. Growing up as the only black child in her village was 'a bit of a problem', but she argued that the prejudice made her tougher, which served as an asset as she began to 'mingle into the world'. On leaving school she worked in a glove factory in Llantrisant, and when it closed and she found herself without an income her former piano teacher put her name forward for a scholarship at the Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff. She won a place and after appearing on the Welsh BBC pop music TV show Disc A Dawn, she had a hit in the country of her birth in 1971 with Pererin Wyf, a Welsh-language version of Amazing Grace. Three years later she won the annual Cân i Gymru (A Song for Wales) competition. Her breakthrough outside Wales came in 1979 when she had a Top 20 UK hit with He Was Beautiful, a song based on the theme from the film The Deer Hunter. During the 1980s she ran a pub near Ascot named The Pheasant Plucker with her first husband while continuing to appear on the nightclub circuit. By the early 1990s she had moved to New York, where she appeared in concert with Bob Hope and Rosemary Clooney. She also sang at gala benefits for the clinics started by Betty Ford, whose husband, the former US president Gerald Ford, helped her to access classified files to find her birth father. By the time she discovered his identity he was already dead and she did not contact his family. Suspecting that they did not know of her existence, she had no wish to cause any posthumous upset. In later years she was a popular entertainer on cruise ships, singing jazz standards and show tunes and joking with audiences that Bassey, who was a decade older, was her 'younger sister'. Iris Williams, singer, was born on April 20, 1946. She died of undisclosed causes on July 9, 2025, aged 79
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'I looked after Sean Connery, David Lynch and Tarantino for work'
With surreal films like Blue Velvet and his mind-bending TV series Twin Peaks, David Lynch often left audiences scratching their the legendary director, who died earlier this year, was left bemused himself on a visit to Glasgow in 2007."He was bewildered by the smoking ban," recalls Angela Freeman, the front of house manager at the GFT cinema that hosted the American filmmaker. "He chain smoked, so I had to walk him and his main personal assistant round the block, past what was C & A at the time, so he could smoke a bit - I was thinking I can't believe I'm walking down the road with David Lynch!" An encounter with Lynch - one of Angela's favourite directors of all time - was just one of many celebrity encounters during a 34 year career at Glasgow's main independent finally stepped down from her role last week, having started at the film house at the tail end of the 1980s. It was three decades that saw massive change to both the city and the cinema itself, as well as an array of A-list names visiting the cinema to promote their it often fell to Angela to look after them when they arrived - even if that meant finding a sandwich for a singing legend."Shirley Bassey came in with Sean Connery once. They'd been involved in a children's film and they came in to watch a test screening together. "That was surreal – my mum absolutely adored her, but I remember someone had to go out and get a tuna and sweetcorn sandwich for her during it!" Then there were the names who arrived as bright young things, before going on to achieve huge fame and fortune in later recalls the GFT scoring a huge hit in 1992 by showing a brash, violent crime thriller, and securing a visit from its director to promote it. The film was Reservoir Dogs and the director was Quentin Tarantino."He was quite young, and just delighted audiences were loving it so much. Several years later he came back, and that was a completely different experience – him coming in to do this red carpet experience, with all this security. "Reservoir Dogs was unique for us. It shocked audiences at the time in a way they hadn't experienced before – it was a real coup, but I know the council got a lot of complaints over us even showing it because of the violence. "It made me feel that every young director we have come in here could go on to be a Tarantino." It wasn't all glamour though. When Angela joined the staff the cinema had only just opened a second screen, and buckets were deployed across parts of the Rose Street building because of water leaking in moved from her native Liverpool to study at Edinburgh College of Art in 1985, and four years later headed west to Glasgow, going on to take a job at the GFT box office."All the ticketing was done manually, so you were stamping up tickets using the old fashioned ticket machines. "I still remember the two ladies training me up with the box office floor just £10 or £20 notes as everyone paid cash - no-one used credit cards then. It was an amazing place." It could be amazing in other ways, given you never quite knew who would walk in off the street."I was once working at the box office and Willem Defoe walked in. He was at the Tramway I think with his theatre group and he just walked in, full-length black coat on and soaking. "He just wanted to see what was on. I was quite respectful, and didn't want him to feel like I was starstruck. But I did acknowledge who he was and said it was amazing to meet them."There was a few like that, Ralph Fiennes and Neil Sedaka both just wandered in. Gillian Anderson came in regularly when filming House of Mirth, and Hugo Weaving was another one." Angela is proud of the cinema's charitable status, and of special screenings for people with dementia and children with autism. The biggest challenge came when managing the expansion of the building, as the famed Cafe Cosmo closed and a third screen was added."It was a big ask to try and remain open during the building phases", she recalls."Every day I had to do a handover with the building manager, walk through it to know where the fire exits were and make sure everything was safe for the public. "At the end of the day we went though it, and came out the other side." She is more circumspect when asked if any guests posed any particular challenges - though one actor, unidentified beyond the clue they starred in a massive 70s blockbuster, did give some headaches."You occasionally get diva behaviour. We had a film festival guest wanting the hotel switched as it was too hot, then he wanted to fly out a day early, which would have cost us something like eight grand."However, most of Angela's memories are of the sweeter kind, while her retirement is being marked with the GFT screening one of her favourite films - Withnail & I - on estimates she helped organise 12 weddings at the cinema over the years, including one with a theme based around the films of quirky director Wes last nuptials she helped organise also proved poignant."There was a couple last year who had a video played on the big screen with various memories of their relationship, and the GFT featured a few times."I was sitting watching it getting emotional. It was lovely to see the impact the cinema has on people - it's still all about bringing a group of individuals together to share in an experience."
South Wales Argus
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
The top five events happening in Gwent this weekend
On Saturday, June 21, from noon to 10pm, the first-ever 'Pub By The River' pop-up bar and micro-festival will take place on the bank of the River Usk. (Image: Supplied) This event will offer a stunning view of the river and promises a fun day with live music, a British barbeque, and a selection of beverages. Marquees will be set up in case of bad weather. The Big Pit in Blaenavon is set to host 'The Big Bash at Big Pit' on the same day from 10am to 6.30pm. (Image: Supplied) This event, which had a successful run last year, will feature live music, food, drink, craft stalls, and the world-famous underground tour and museum. Entry is free for all. Chepstow Castle, known as the oldest post-Roman stone castle in the UK, is also hosting a needle felting workshop on June 21. (Image: Supplied) This workshop will be led by fibre and clay artist Emma Bevan from Woven Earth Studio. Participants are asked to bring a photograph or image of something that has inspired them. The £10 ticket covers the workshop and general admission to the castle. Tintern Abbey will be hosting a falconry event on June 21 and 22. (Image: Supplied) Visitors will have the chance to see birds of prey up close, learn about the history of hawking, and watch the birds fly, weather permitting. Talks on the birds of prey and their place in history will also be given. On Sunday, there is 'O Gymru - A Celebration of the Music of Wales,' presented by Lleisiau Torfaen Voices, South Wales' leading choir. (Image: Supplied) This event promises an evening of the finest choral music of Wales, bringing to life traditional songs and hits from legendary Welsh artists like Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, and Bonnie Tyler. It is described as a night that will "stir the heart and lift the spirit." These events, each unique in their own right, offer something for everyone in Gwent this weekend. Whether you're a music lover, a fan of the great outdoors, or interested in historical crafts, there's something to enjoy.
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tom Jones reveals he 'almost collapsed' while recording iconic James Bond theme tune
Tom Jones recently revealed he 'almost collapsed' while recording the iconic theme tune for the James Bond movie Thunderball, which was released in 1965. The Welsh singer, 85, was recruited last-minute to conjure up a number incorporating the movie's name after Shirley Bassey and Dionne Warwick's attempts were axed by producers for exceeding the opening credits length. Ultimately, composer John Barry and lyricist Don Black placed their bets on Tom, who is renowned for his powerful baritone voice. However, Tom has confessed belting out the song's climactic high note left him close to passing out in the recording booth. Sharing the nerve-wracking incident on Radio 2's Sound of the 60s with Tony Blackburn, Tom said: 'John Barry, who wrote the music, and Don Black did the lyrics, From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'So John Barry said, "Hold the note as long as you can because the music is going to go on longer than that, so don't try to hold it until the end. So just hold it as long as you can and then forget it." I forgot to take a big enough breath.' Tom went on to reveal that the original lyrics were meant to be 'he strikes like thunder' before taking a deep breath and belting out the word 'ball'. He explained: 'But I didn't, so I hit ball and I'm going, and I'm going, and I close my eyes, and I go a little flat towards the end there. You'll hear it just at the end, tapering off, because I couldn't hold it any longer. Recounting the aftermath of singing the last note, he added: 'When I opened my eyes, the room was spinning, so I had to grab hold of the booth I was in to steady myself. I almost went down.' During an interview with Far Out magazine, songwriter Don also recalled how Tom 'got a head rush' while singing the final note of the song. He said: 'The thing I remember most is Tom Jones' recording of the song in which he fainted on the last note. He got a head rush or something. The Bond songs I describe as the lure of the forbidden. It should have the whiff of a boudoir about it.' Explaining his inspiration behind the lyrics of the tune, he added: 'With Thunderball, the first thing I did was look it up in the dictionary. So I scratched my head and used it as a code word, you know, "He strikes like Thunderball". Tom was chosen to perform the James Bond theme tune just a year after achieving chart success with his hit It's Not Unusual. However, Thunderball only reached number 35 in the UK Top 40. Tom has had a stellar career with an impressive tally of 36 UK Top 40 hits and 19 US Top 40 successes. His significant contributions to the music industry were recognised when he was knighted in 2006. However, his version of Thunderball didn't quite hit the mark according to Classic FM, which ranked the song as the fourth-worst James Bond theme in 2022. On the other hand, Shirley's timeless hit Diamonds Are Forever from 1971 was crowned the best James Bond theme by the same publication. The legendary singer, 88, also provided the vocals for Bond themes Goldfinger in 1964 and Moonraker in 1979.
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The incredible inspiration behind Queen Elizabeth's dazzling Diamond Jubilee concert outfit revealed by her former dresser
With half a million people packed into The Mall and millions more watching from home, Buckingham Palace became the dazzling backdrop to a historic concert celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. As pop legends took the stage to mark her remarkable 60-year reign, the palace was illuminated with stunning projections. The concert, which honoured each decade of the Queen's reign through music, featured a star-studded lineup, including Sir Cliff Richard, Elton John, Shirley Bassey and Kylie Minogue. Arriving partway through the event to cheers from the crowd, Elizabeth made a striking appearance in a gold lamé cocktail dress, designed by her long-time senior dresser, Angela Kelly. The look was inspired by the gilded figure of Victory that sits atop the Queen Victoria Memorial just outside Buckingham Palace. As Kelly explains in her book Dressing the Queen: 'The fact that the Queen was appearing on stage at a concert suggested a theatrical mood. 'For those of us working in Buckingham Palace the Queen Victoria Memorial is a familiar friend and it was the golden figure on top of the monument that gave me the idea for the colour of the Queen's dress.' The iconic monument was reimagined as a circular stage, setting the scene for a night of music that spanned Elizabeth's six-decade reign. Her dress - a period piece in itself - was crafted from fabric originally purchased overseas in 1961. It was richly trimmed with antique gold lace and embellished with Swarovski crystals to catch the light under the stage spotlights. In place of traditional jewellery, which was deemed too formal for the concert setting, an elaborate embroidered appliqué provided decorative flourish. Originally designed to drape down the left side of the gown, it was later moved to the right - at Elizabeth's request. Kelly recounts: 'At an earlier stage we had put it on the opposite shoulder; it was the Queen's decision to change it around, and absolutely right that we did.' The evening culminated in a dramatic moment when Her Late Majesty lit the final beacon on The Mall by plunging the Diamond Jubilee crystal into a ceremonial tube - triggering a breathtaking fireworks display that lit up the London skyline While Prince Philip was hospitalised with a bladder infection, other members of the Royal Family - including Prince William, Catherine and Prince Harry - joined in the lively performances, singing along and waving Union flags in rhythm with the music. Queen Elizabeth appeared visibly moved as Prince Charles delivered a heartfelt and humorous speech honouring his mother, joking that if the crowd cheered loudly enough, the Duke of Edinburgh might be able to hear it from his hospital bed. The evening culminated in a dramatic moment when Her Late Majesty lit the final beacon on The Mall by plunging the Diamond Jubilee crystal into a ceremonial tube - triggering a breathtaking fireworks display that lit up the London skyline. The next day, the Royal Family attended a thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral, where the Queen addressed her family and the nation through a speech she had recorded in advance from her private chambers.
