In Wales, we have more than our fair share of famous sons and daughters, with many famous people hailing from our land. In this post, we look at some of the most famous Welsh people and their backgrounds in Wales. Dame Shirley Bassey Dame Shirley Bassey, who was born on the 8th of January 1937, is one of the most popular female vocalists in the world. She was the first Welsh person to achieve a number one single, in January 1959, with her single As I Love You. Her iconic career includes 35 albums, 105 singles, including Big Spender, Goldfinger and Diamonds are Forever and with estimated global sales of over 135 million. Dame Shirley has come a long way from her humble beginnings in Cardiff’s Tiger Bay. Tom Jones Sir Tom Jones, who was born Thomas John Woodward in Treforest, Pontypridd on the 7th of June 1940 and is another iconic performer of his generation, as well of being another famous son of Wales. His musical career began playing pubs and clubs in South Wales and his career spans many decades. His most famous songs include Delilah, the Green Green Grass of Home and It’s Not Unusual. He is of course, also a star of the TV show The Voice. Richard Burton Another Welsh legend, Richard Burton was born Richard Walter Jenkins on the 10th of November 1925. His family lived in the mining village of Pontrhydyfen in South Wales. He took on the name Burton from his schoolmaster and drama coach, Philip Burton. Richard Burton was the star of the theatre circuit in the 1950s and 1960s, with his interpretation of Hamlet in 1964 being a highlight, before focussing on Hollywood. Some of his most famous films include Look Back in Anger, Cleopatra and Who’s
In Wales, we have more than our fair share of famous sons and daughters, with many famous people hailing from our land. In this post, we look at some of the most famous Welsh people and their backgrounds in Wales. Dame Shirley Bassey Dame Shirley Bassey, who was born