Dusty Springfield was an influential and iconic soul singer. Her hit singles included "Wishin' and Hopin'", and "Son of a Preacher Man." Springfield was one of the biggest selling pop artist in the UK during the 1960s.

Springfield was given the nickname "Dusty" as a child, as her parents thought her to be a tomboy. At the young age of 11, she made her first record "When The Midnight Choo Choo Leaves For Alabam'" a Judy Garland cover. Springfield's parents encouraged her musical passion from a young age.

Her first album made its debut in 1964 with Philips Records entitled A Girl Called Dusty. The album was only released in the United Kindom at the time, but was finally released worldwide in 1997 with eight additional songs.

Nicknamed the "White Queen of Soul," she scored 18 number one hits between 1963 to 1970 and was the most successful female artist of the British Invasion.

Springfield collaborated throughout her career with Carole King and Randy Newman for their songwriting skills.

On March 2, 1999, Springfield passed away after a battle with breast cancer that had been diagnosed in 1995. Her last sessions in the song "Someone to Watch over Me" can be heard on the A Very Fine Love album.

1. "I'm the most misunderstood, misquoted person I know, honestly."
2. "I wouldn't know how to handle serenity if somebody handed it to me on a plate."
3. "I couldn't stand to be thought of as a big butch lady. But I know that I'm as perfectly capable of being swayed by a girl as by a boy."
4. "To love, to go to bed, fantastic; but to love a man is my prime ambition.... They frighten me."

• Google News Search: Dusty Springfield

• Last.fm: Similar to Dusty Springfield