Mary O’Brien (1939 – 1999), professionally known as Dusty Springfield, was an English pop singer and record producer. Her career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s and at her peak, she was one of the most successful British female performers, famous for her distinctive mezzo-soprano sound.
Today’s song, “Son of a Preacher Man” is a song written and composed by American songwriters John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins. Springfield recorded the song in September 1968 for her album Dusty in Memphis.
As a fan of US soul music, she brought many little-known soul singers to the attention of a wider UK record-buying audience. Since her death, Springfield has been widely commended as the leading British soul singer of the twentieth century. She is remembered as an icon of the Swinging Sixties, and her album Dusty in Memphis is recognised as a pop-R&B masterpiece.
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