Many top stars cite Dusty as a major influence and inspiration. Here are
just a few tributes:
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| “I Only
Want to Be With You entered the BILLBOARD Hot 100 a week after I
Want to Hold Your Hand in January 1964, making Dusty Springfield the
second artist, and the first soloist, to participate in the British
Invasion of the American charts. I have thanked heaven for her every
week ever since.” |
| Paul Gambaccini |
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| “She was a
real powerful force, and yet she was shy and vulnerable... to sing with
that amount of passion takes courage... Dusty had such a great spirit
that it will never die.” |
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Lulu |
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“She hadn't
recorded for several years, but as soon as she arrived in the studio and
began to sing, we knew that the greatest female singer Britain has ever
produced was still on brilliant form. Quite honestly, we were in awe of
her. Dusty was a tender, exhilarating and soulful singer; incredibly
intelligent at phrasing a song, painstakingly building it up to
thrilling climax. She was also a warm and funny person.” |
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Neil Tennant |
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| “Dusty always
had credibility. I was glad I had the chance to tell her how much I and
the other Beatles had always thought of her. She was a great singer and
a beautiful lady who will be missed by many. ” |
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Paul McCartney |
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| “The first
time I heard Dusty Springfield sing, I became smitten with her voice.
The times we have worked together over the years have been some of the
most memorable of my life. She is a very special lady and my favourite
singer of all time.” |
| Anne Murray |
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| “She was a
white woman who had this amazing black influence...good production,
great songs, a really great voice, and she knew about that and did it
regularly.” |
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Cliff |
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| “The way that
she looked was easy to impersonate, but the voice was impossible to
imitate, Dusty was the perfect pop singer.” |
| Petula Clark |
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| “I thought
that Dusty was the best female singer to come along at the time. To me
she was as good as Aretha Franklin....and completely timeless...she was
the greatest.” |
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Elton John |
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| “You could
hear just three notes and know it was Dusty.” |
| Burt Bacharach |
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“She was an incredible artist.” |
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Cilla Black |
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| “She was
definitely a singer's singer. She was someone that you listened to and
aspired to - that was one thing I remember; listening to her. I was
always told how particular she was about her vocals, so technical.
“She definitely had the goods; she wasn't just a pop singer.” |
| Cher |
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| “Dusty was vibrant,
funny, honest and so very talented.” |
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Dionne Warwick |
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| “Dusty had a voice that
was so unique and precious. It was always the voice with its sense of
longing that demanded your attention.” |
| Elvis Costello |
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| “I don't know anyone who
didn't love her. She was an inspiration to every singer I know, and she
also had the best eye make-up.” |
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Chrissie Hynde |
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| “I grew up listening to
her. She was truly an icon and will be missed by young and old.” |
| Kele Le Roc |
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| “It's a sad
loss to the music business. She was a lady with a lot of strength and
the Spice Girls had a lot of respect for her.” |
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Mel C |
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| “Dusty Springfield is one
of the greatest singers and interpreters of song of our time. She not
only sings the song – she lives the song. It’s been an honour, a
privilege and a treasure to have her perform so much of my work. I
consider Dusty a partner in my songs and a friend in my life.” |
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Carole King |
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| “There was
never a voice in pop music like Dusty Springfield’s. It was haunting,
husky, full of secrets and promises, and once you’d heard her on a
ballad, you were never the same. Her songs were like little scenes, and
she never sang a false note. Bless you Dusty – and thanks for the
inspiration.” |
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Bette Midler |
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| “Her distinctive voice
set her apart. She certainly helped pave the way for female singers and
had great character.” |
| Saffron (Republica) |
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| “We were the
first pop divas and the first emergence of Girl Power. I feel privileged
to have been a contemporary of this feisty and talented woman.” |
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Sandie Shaw |
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| “She had not only an
unbelievably strong voice but great feeling. She broke through any
division between black and white music.” |
| Sharleen Spiteri (Texas) |
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“She’s so fine!” |
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Springsteen |
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“Her interpretations of songs like The Look
Of Love are the best. There was real sensuality in her voice, and
she never over sang.” |
| Tanita Tikaram |
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| “Dusty was
one of the few British female singers of her era who could convey real
Soul when she sang. You could hear her heart in her voice.” |
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Beverley Knight |
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| “Dusty was one of the
greatest white soul singers of our time, and an inspiration to us all,
black & white.” |
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Shaznay Lewis (All Saints) |
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“Dusty was on Later
and she performed the song Where Is A Woman To Go. In this
performance she got Allison Moyet and Sinead O'Connor to come and sing
backing vocals and I was very excited, and nervous about meeting her
because
I'd been such a fan since I was a small child.
“But she was totally musical and completely in control through
gentleness and encouraging all the people around her, and so in the end
a brilliant performance came out of not just her but she bought it out
of all the people around her.” |
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Jools Holland |
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