I Used To Say My Mother Was Shirley Bassey
Growing up in the middle of a large Nigerian family in South London was never going to be straightforward.
Luckily, Stephen K Amos was never afraid to put a spin on things. After all, when you and your twin sister are the only black kids in class, what could be more natural than to tell everyone that your mother is Shirley Bassey?
But if life in a school full of feral pre-teens is tough, it’s when his father suddenly announces a family ‘holiday’ to Nigeria that things in young Stephen’s life get truly surprising.
From playing the class clown to playing the Hammersmith Apollo, this book charts the rise of one of our best-loved comedians, with some unexpected twists and turns along the way.
How did he find himself meeting a king in Africa; what happened to his first love; and how did a simple vacuum cleaner lead to his big break?
Brilliantly evoking London, Lagos and the stand-up life, Stephen turns his unflinching comedian’s eye on himself.
Poignant, very funny, and with the narrative gift for which Amos is famous, I Used to Say My Mother was Shirley Bassey is a memoir of a life fitting in, standing out, and (almost) always laughing.
Stephen K Amos has entertained audiences all over the world. His debut DVD Find the Funny, recorded at the Enmore Theatre Sydney, was released November 2009.
In 2010 Stephen filmed his debut show The Stephen K Amos Show for BBC2 and released his second DVD The Feelgood Factor. He lives in London.
Click here to buy the book - I Used To Say My Mother Was Shirley Bassey
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