Dusty Springfield

Dusty Springfield

Dusty Springfield is the stage name of Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien OBE, an English singer born in West Hampstead, London, in 1939 and active until her death in 1999. She is known for her mezzo-soprano voice and for singing blue-eyed soul, pop, pop soul, R&B, baroque pop and philly soul, alongside dramatic ballads, French chanson, country and jazz.

Early career and group work

Springfield learns to sing at home in a musical family. In 1958, she joins her first professional group, the Lana Sisters. In 1960, she forms the folk-pop vocal trio the Springfields with her brother Dion O'Brien, known as Tom Springfield, and Tim Feild. The group has five UK Top 40 hits between 1961 and 1963, including "Island of Dreams" and "Say I Won't Be There", both of which reach No. 5 in spring 1963. They also find success in the United States with a cover of "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" in 1962.

Solo success in the 1960s

Her solo career begins in late 1963 with "I Only Want to Be with You", a UK No. 4 hit and the first of six transatlantic Top 40 hits in the 1960s. Other major singles include "Stay Awhile", "All I See Is You" and "I'll Try Anything". Two of her best-known songs are "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me", which reaches No. 1 in the UK and No. 4 in the US, and "Son of a Preacher Man", which reaches No. 9 in the UK and No. 10 in the US.

Albums and later recordings

"Son of a Preacher Man" appears on Dusty in Memphis (1968), a defining album in her career. Her studio albums also include A Girl Called Dusty, Dusty, Ooooooweeee!!!, Ev'rything's Coming Up Dusty, You Don't Have to Say You Love Me, Where Am I Going?, The Look of Love, Dusty... Definitely, A Brand New Me, See All Her Faces, Cameo, It Begins Again, Living Without Your Love, White Heat, Reputation, A Very Fine Love and Faithful, the last of which is recorded in 1971 and issued later. Between 1964 and 1969, she also has UK success with "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself", "In the Middle of Nowhere", "Some of Your Lovin'", "Goin' Back" and "I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten". In the United States, she charts with "Wishin' and Hopin'", "The Look of Love" and "The Windmills of Your Mind".

Work in television and later chart success

Springfield is a regular presence on British television. She presents many episodes of Ready Steady Go! between 1963 and 1966 and hosts her own BBC and ITV series between 1966 and 1969. After a period without major hit singles, she returns to the charts in 1987 with "What Have I Done to Deserve This?", a collaboration with Pet Shop Boys that reaches No. 2 in both the UK and the US. The collaboration also leads to UK Top 20 hits with "Nothing Has Been Proved" and "In Private". Her final UK Top 40 hit is "Reputation" in 1990.

Style, recognition and legacy

During her peak in the 1960s, Springfield is one of the most successful British female performers on both sides of the Atlantic. Her image, including a peroxide blonde bouffant or beehive hairstyle, heavy eye makeup and evening gowns, together with stylised, gestural performances, makes her an icon of the Swinging Sixties. In 1966, she tops popularity polls including Melody Maker's "Best International Vocalist" and becomes the first UK singer to top the New Musical Express readers' poll for best female singer. She is inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the UK Music Hall of Fame.