Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey ( born January 8 , 1937 ) is a Welsh singer , she is best known for singing the theme songs for the James Bond films , Goldfinger , Diamonds are Forever , and Moonraker . Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey , DBE ( born 8 January 1937 in Cardiff , Wales ) , is a Welsh singer who found fame in the late 1950s and has continued a successful career since then worldwide . She is best known for recording the theme songs to the James Bond films Goldfinger ( 1964 ) , Diamonds Are Forever ( 1971 ) , and Moonraker ( 1979 ) , and is a UNESCO Artist for Peace .