From London’s Gresham College: a lecture by Professor Dominic Broomfield-McHugh, Visiting Professor of Film and Theatre Music about Dame Shirley Bassey.
The Black Welsh singer started out recording cover versions of American songbook classics but rose to international fame after her performance of the title song of Goldfinger. Movie songs, successful albums and popular television specials followed, but so too did personal tragedy and a highly critical (and gendered) reputation of her professional behaviour in the media.
The word ‘diva’ has been applied both admiringly and misogynistically to her life and work, typifying her experience as a Black British woman.
Gresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of their supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. They believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds.
Dame Shirley Bassey Blog 
Thank you for sharing the interesting and well researched Gresham College lecture. It reminded me of many unforgettable years on stage with DSB at Carnegie Hall, New Jersey, and in South Africa. Prof/Mrs./CommissionerBarbara Hedlundwww.barbarahedlund.comwww.vcellomusic.com Commissioner, Chair, & Co-Founder Urbana Public Arts and Culture CommissionPrincipal Cello CUSO, DSO, HFO, SCOBaroque Artists Violoncello ContinuoCEO 1st Choice Music Services & VCello Music PublicationsCUSO Guild In School Concerts Coordinator Contractor Heartland Festival Orchestra, Baroque Artists of Champaign Urbana, First United Methodist Church and First Presbyterian Churches of Champaign, Emmanuel Memorial Episcopal Church Professor Cellobration StudioC/Txt 217-384-0874 vcello1@comcast.net Studio: 505 Eliot DriveUrbana, IL 61801 Find us on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, & Yelp
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This was an excellent lecture Pieter. How terrible to hear how Mr. Arnold gave DSB a sock on the jaw when she was with Michael Sullivan. I have always wished DSB would have an excellent writer to collaborate with her on a biography. Many thanks for this.
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