Dusty Springfield

Born: April 16, 1939 Hampstead/London, England

Real name: Mary O'Brien

Worked as a sales girl in a record store and sang and played guitar in her spare time in The Lana Sisters group +++ Formed the folk trio "The Springfields" in 1960, with her brother Tom and his friend Tim Feild +++ The group were voted Britain's best vocal group in 1961 +++ Until 1963 they had a few hits in Britian and the US, incl. "Silver threads and Golden needles" +++ Dusty went solo in 1963, scoring immediately on her own with "I only want to be with you" +++ A string of hits on both sides of the Atlantic followed, incl. "You don't have to say you love me", "I close my eyes and count to ten", "Son of a preacher man" and others +++ Dusty was voted World's Best Singer in 1965 and twice Britain's Best Singer in 1966 and 1967 +++ She had a comeback with "What have I done to deserve this", teaming up with the Pet Shop Boys, in 1987/1988 +++