Swinging Sixties Icon, Dusty Springfield Famous Blue-Eyed Soul Singer

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Photo Source: Dustyspringfield.co.uk

FEMUSINDO.com - Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien, better known as Dusty Springfield, was born in West Hampstead, London, on April 16, 1939.

She is an English record producer and pop singer who was active from the late 1950s to the 1990s. With her distinctive mezzo-soprano voice, she became a famous blue-eyed soul singer.

During the peak of her career in the 1960s, she was among the most successful British female performers on both sides of the Atlantic.

Her image was characterized by a peroxide blonde beehive hairstyle, heavy makeup and evening gowns, and stylish gestural appearance, making her an icon of the Swinging Sixties.

Born into a Musical Family

Born in West Hampstead, London, into a musical family, Springfield learned to sing at home. In 1958, she joined her first professional group, the Lana Sisters.

Two years later, with her brother Dion O'Brien ("Tom Springfield") and Tim Feild, she formed the folk-pop vocal trio the Springfields.

Two of their five UK Top 40 hits of 1961–63 – "Island of Dreams" and "Say I Won't Be There" – reached number five on the charts, both in the spring of 1963.

In 1962, they also had a major success in the United States with a cover of "Silver Threads and Golden Needles".

Beginning Solo Career and Recording

Her solo career began in late 1963 with the upbeat pop recording of "I Only Want to Be with You" – which reached number five in the UK.

In March 2020, the US Library of Congress added one of Springfield's albums, Dusty in Memphis (1968), to the National Recording Registry.

The album has been considered to contain audio recordings of cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance.

Between 1964 and 1969 Springfield achieved major success in her native Britain with several singles that failed to chart or were not released in America.

Charting and Television Stardom

In 1990, Springfield charted with "Reputation", the last of 25 UK Top 40 hits with which she participated.

A regular on British television, Springfield hosted many episodes of the 1963–66 British TV music series Ready Steady Go!.

Later, between 1966 and 1969, Springfield hosted her own series on the BBC and ITV.

Greatest Popular Female Singer of All Time

In 1966, she topped popularity polls, including Melody Maker's Best International Vocalist.

She was the first British singer to top the New Musical Express readers' poll for Female Singer.

Springfield is a member of the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the UK Music Hall of Fame.

International polls have praised Springfield and she is considered one of the greatest popular female singers of all time.

Dusty Springfield died in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England, on March 2, 1999 at the age of 59. (*)