Dusty Springfield

Dusty Springfield: Biography in Details

Who is Dusty Springfield?

Dusty Springfield was a professional singer with a career of over five decades of mezzo-soprano sound. During the 1960s peak, she ranked as one of the best British female performers. She had performed in genres like blue-eyed soul, pop, and dramatic ballads, with French chanson, country, and jazz. “Son of a Preacher Man(1969)” is one of her most loved songs.

Who are the parents of Dusty Springfield?

She was born on 16 April 1939 in West Hampstead in London to a music enthusiast family. Her birth name was Mary Isabel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien. She belonged to an Irish descendant. Her zodiac was Aries.

Her father’s name was Gerard Anthony “OB” O’Brien and her mother’s name was Catherine Anne “Kay” O’Brien. She had two brothers Tom Springfield and Tim Springfield.  Together with her brothers, during her early career, she formed the folk-pop vocal trio The Springfields.

She attended St Anne’s Convent School, Northfields, a traditional all-girl school. She had a middle-class upbringing but there were disturbances. Her father’s perfectionism and her mother’s frustrations resulted in frequent food-throwing incidents. Springfield and her brothers were both prone to food-throwing as grown-ups.

Detailing her early life, she was given the nickname “Dusty” and tomboy for playing football with boys in the street. At age 12, Dusty Springfield sang Irving Berlin’s song “When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam” at a record shop in Ealing.

Body Features- Height, Weight & Appearance

She had a height of 5 feet and 3 inches. Her fans loved her peroxide blonde bouffant and beehive hairstyle. She used to carry heavy makeup (thick black eyeliner and eye shadow). Her fashion style, her husky tone everything got her limelight in the Sixties. She had an oval-shaped white face featuring her blue eyes.

Dusty Springfield- Job & Career

To begin her career, she joined her first professional group, The Lana Sisters in 1950. Two years later, Springfield formed the folk-pop vocal trio The Springfields with her brothers and gave five hits. Among these, “Island of Dreams” and “Say I Won’t Be There” were listed top 5 both in the spring of 1963. In 1962 their song  “Silver Threads and Golden Needles” were in the mouths of music lovers. She also had her solo single hit “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” (1966).

Throughout her career, she worked with other famous faces like Jerry Wexler,  Arif Mardin, Tom Dowd, Peter Stringfellow, Leon Huff, O’Jays, Billy Paul, and Mary Wells. Her songs like “Little by Little”, and ” I Only Want to Be With You,” were trending both in the UK and US. She also sang  The Colour of Your Eyes which is also available on Spotify. Her other famous songs were Goin’ Back, I Close My Eyes And Count To Ten, and The Look Of Love

Dusty Springfield had been a voice to all the LGBTQ community as well. the community tribute to her by making her record Breakfast in Bed became the lesbian anthem. Also, for her successful and inspiring journey, and her husky tone I was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the year 1999.

Dusty Springfield-Net worth, Salary

In her short life, Dusty Springfield was successful enough to make a good fortune. Her name was all over when it came to music. She definitely gathered enough riches in the 1960s. Following in the 1970s and 1980s she had a handsome salary.

What caused Dusty Springfield’s death?

Dusty Springfield took the material of black music and recreate a new essence, also revolutionizing Motown music. She became an icon to gay, lesbian, and straight audiences as well. Her untimely demise at the age of 59, due to breast cancer on March 2, 1999, brought tears to all the music aspirants.

Rumors, Controversies

There definitely were rumors regarding her secret romantic encounters with women. Dusty Springfield publicly expressed her interest in girls later on.

Trivia

• She had a unique husky voice that stand out.
• She died at the age of 59.

Also, continue to read more musical divas of her period Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, and Stevie Wonder.

Dusty Springfield's Birthday Dates