DAME SHIRLEY Bassey paid a moving tribute yesterday to singer, actress and cabaret icon Eartha Kitt, who died on Christmas Day aged 81, from colon cancer.
The Welsh singing legend said her long-time friend entertained millions and was one of the "guiding influences" of cabaret entertainment during the second half of the last century.The superstars were friends for more than 50 years and last performed together at the 2007 Bath Jazz Festival. Dame Shirley said: "Eartha Kitt was one of the guiding influences on cabaret art in the 20th century. She had an influence that will last far beyond her 81 years.
"Eartha provided entertainment to millions of us and to have spent six decades working across many genres is remarkable.
"My condolences and deep, deep thoughts go to all of her family and friends at this tragic time." Kitt, famed for her provocative catlike purr, rose from South Carolina cotton fields to become one of America's most versatile performers. Her showbiz career started as a dancer with the Katherine Dunham troupe and developed into full-blown cabarets, stage acting and singing, movies and television.
Kitt was blacklisted in the US in the late 1960s after speaking out against the Vietnam War at a White House function. However, she returned to New York's Broadway in a triumphant 1978 production, Timbuktu!, and went on to perform regularly in shows.