Famous Female Singers

If you’re looking for the best female singers of all time, there are many great options. Whether you’re looking for pop, jazz, or classical music, there are some legendary ladies in this category. These singers all made their mark on music history, so it’s important to learn about them.

Dame Shirley Bassey

The powerful voice and career longevity of Dame Shirley Bassey have made her one of Britain’s most popular vocalists. She’s also been the voice behind the theme songs of three James Bond films. Her music has become a mainstay of the British music scene, and many people consider her one of the greatest vocalists of all time.

Shirley Bassey was born in 1937, and has had a long career in music. Throughout her career, she has received various accolades and recognition, including the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She was also named one of the “100 Great Black Britons” in 2003. Her music has influenced many artists.

Bassey has been married twice. The first time, in 1961, she married Kenneth Hume. Later, she married Sergio Novak. The couple had three children. One of their children, Samantha, was found dead in the River Avon, Bristol. It was unclear if she was the mother of the other two. In the late 1980s, she devoted more time to charity work. In 2000, she entered semi-retirement. During her lifetime, she sold 135 million records.

In the mid-1980s, Bassey began working with a vocal coach, a former opera singer. This may have influenced her work on Keep the Music Playing. In addition, her debut album, The Performance, was released in November 2009. She was featured on Strictly Come Dancing and performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London, as well as on several television shows.

Bassey’s life began in a humble family in Cardiff, Wales. Her mother was an immigrant, and her father had recently been imprisoned for repeated sexual abuse of a child. The couple moved to a working class neighbourhood, where Bassey grew up. Her father was Nigerian, and her mother was English. As a result, the Bassey family struggled with poverty.

Although she had a strong voice as a youngster, she had little encouragement and ended up singing in pubs and clubs. After giving birth to her daughter, she began performing again. A few years later, she was discovered by agent Mike Sullivan, who managed her career.

Dame Etta James

Dame Etta James is a well-known female singer who was a pioneer of soul. Her lyrical interpretation of popular songs was both eloquent and sinister. Despite her ups and downs, she managed to keep a steady streak of hits. In the 1970s, she was hospitalized and sought rehab. In 1978, she signed with Warner Brothers. While her career never saw a wide audience again, she was praised by critics and soul aficionados.

Etta James’ voice was deep and earthy, making her one of the first female singers to perform soul music. She won six Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. She was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. She is also a member of the Blues Hall of Fame.

Etta James began her career as a gospel singer. She went on to perform with Johnny Otis, and at age 15 became involved in a girl group called the Creolettes. She was so enamored with his music that she decided to change her name to Etta James. In 1955, she performed on a tour with an unknown 19-year-old Elvis Presley, and noted the young man’s manners.

Etta James had a brief stint on the blues chart. Then, she became involved in drug and alcohol addiction. In 1973, she entered rehab on a court order. In 1988, she relapsed and began drinking heavily. Eventually, she began to recover from her addiction and signed with Island Records. In 1990, she also made a comeback album called Jump the Blues Away, which received positive reviews and limited commercial success.

A controversial woman, Etta James had an extremely wild life. She was an addict of drugs and a former armed robber. Yet her singing talent was unparalleled, and her powerful voice embodied a soul that raged against society and the music industry. Her life story sparked a book in 2003 called “Rage to Survive”. In 2005, Beyonce’s film “Cadillac Records” followed the singer’s story, based on the real-life record label Chess Records.

James was born and raised in the Riverdale neighborhood of New York. Her father was a jazz pianist, and her uncles were prominent in various fields of music, including jazz and classical music. She met her future husband, James Taylor, while spending a summer vacation on Martha’s Vineyard with her parents. James was also married to Jim Hart, a writer.