Dusty Springfield 16.4.39 - 2.3.99

Ten years since Dusty died: my favourite singer and, close to my heart for all sorts of reasons, her songs are part of the soundtrack to my life.

Dusty was a pioneer of white soul, a brilliant interpreter of songs by Bacharach, Randy Newman, Jacques Brel and many of the other best song writers of that era -- Mann & Weil, Goffin & King. She could sing ballads, country, soul, folk and pop and suffuse any song with real emotion and her own individual ‘take’: she always gave her all.

Dusty was often seen as just another 60s girl singer in the line with Lulu, Sandie and Cilla but she fought hard for the integrity of her work and, although she was given no credit at the time, she in fact produced and co-produced many of her songs. She strived to reproduce an authentic soul sound in studios peopled by old fashioned musicians more used to backing Cliff or Adam Faith. Her feistiness and perfectionism often led to accusations of tyrannical behaviour but she knew what worked, wanted the best and wouldn’t be satisfied until she got it.

Dusty lauded and promoted Motown in the UK. After the disastrous Motown UK ‘Ghost Tour’ (so called because hardly anyone came to the concerts) she fought hard to ensure that authentic performances of Motown music were heard by more people in the UK and that Motown artists were properly recognised. Most people in the UK only knew that music through the tepid interpretations of home grown groups like The Beatles and The Stones. With Dusty’s backing and persuasion the Ready Steady Go Motown Special was brought to ITV. Almost certainly, without her backing it would probably never have happened but thanks to her the wonderful joyful sound of acts like Martha and the Vandellas, The Supremes, Four Tops etc became more widely heard and appreciated.

Partly on the back of making her 1969 classic album ‘Dusty in Memphis’, where she worked with the same musicians and producers as Aretha, Dusty moved to the US and more or less stayed there until the mid 80s. Life in the US was tough and she had a hard time emotionally, spiritually and financially. Lack of self confidence and never being able to accept that what she created was good enough led to all sorts of difficulties but gradually she pulled through. In the 80s she found renewed success with the Pet Shop Boys and moved home to the UK.

Finally in the 90s her real talent and achievements were recognised but she became ill with breast cancer and finally succumbed to the disease in 1999. She died on the day she had been due to go to Buckingham Palace to receive her OBE. Officials of St James’s Palace gave permission for the medal to be collected by Springfield's manager, Vicki Wickham, who presented it to Dusty in hospital.

Her death really affected me: not because I am an obsessive fan but because I had followed her from childhood and so many of her songs are connected to key moments in my life. She was creative, talented, rebellious, principled, funny and generous. I never met her. She died ten days after my father. I miss them both.

Here’s a lovely clip from the RSG Motown Special of Dusty singing with Martha and the Vandellas who were already close friends

Some links to other tributes:

Pop Junkie

The Wild Reed

The Music's Over

Dusty Springfield Network