Book description
Growing up in a large Nigerian family in South London, Stephen K.
Amos learnt early on to find the humour in every situation. Raised by
his parents and extended family of 'aunts' and 'uncles', I Used to
Say My Mother was Shirley Bassey tells the story of Stephen's
chaotic upbringing in the carnival atmosphere of the late seventies
and early eighties. Stephen describes his awkward beginnings as the
only black kid in his class, where he told everyone his mum was
Shirley Bassey to break the ice. Then, as a middle child in a large
family, Stephen learnt stage presence by vying for attention and
performing at family parties. Now a world-renowned comedian and
performer, regularly selling out venues like the Hammersmith Apollo,
Stephen looks back at his earlier life and the incidents which shaped
him and continue to inspire his performances. Poignant, funny, and
with the narrative gift Stephen is famous for, I Used to Say
My Mother was Shirley Bassey is a memoir of a life fitting
in, standing out, and (almost) always laughing.
