Living Famously

Dusty Springfield (1x25)

Fecha de emisión: Feb 25, 2003

Living Famously traces the story of the dramatic life and career of British pop diva Dusty Springfield. Singer Kiki Dee, producer Pete Waterman, club promoter Peter Stringfellow and backing musician Derek Wadsworth are amongst those interviewed. Dusty's singing career began in 1958 when, at the age of 19, she replied to an ad in The Stage to join female vocal trio, The Lana Sisters. They had a number of minor hits and toured the UK supporting established artists. Dusty quit the group in 1959 to team up with her brother Tom and friend, Tim Field, to form The Springfields. But by 1962 Dusty was becoming frustrated with the musical direction of The Springfields. Very much the star of the group, it was no surprise when she went solo. Dusty's solo career was immediately successful, with a complete change of musical direction and visual reinvention. I Only Want to be With You was the first of a string of hit singles that were to make Dusty the most successful British female singer of the 1960s. She went on to release 15 consecutive top 20 singles during the 1960s and became established as one of the country's leading artists. By the end of the 1960s, Dusty had unparalleled status as an interpreter of other people's songs. Established songwriters like Carole King would send unreleased demo tapes for Dusty to rearrange and re-record. But, despite her success in Britain, Dusty longed to make it in the land of her idols, America. Aiming to capitalise on her growing profile there, she signed with Jerry Wexler's Atlantic Records to produce her first US recorded album, Dusty in Memphis. But, though critically acclaimed, and including the hit single, Son of a Preacher Man, the album wasn't a commercial success. And, although Dusty moved to America following the album's release in 1970, her ambition to become the 'white Aretha' was destined to falter. After several years of living in LA without commercial success, Dusty returned to the UK in 1978 to attempt a comeba