Yes, Norma Tanega was the partner of Dusty Springfield.
Norma Cecilia Tanega was an American folk and pop singer-songwriter, painter, and experimental musician.
In the 1960s, she had a hit with the single “Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog” and wrote songs for Dusty Springfield and other prominent musicians.
Tanega began classical piano lessons at age nine. She entered Long Beach Polytechnic High School in 1952 and in her senior year directed the school’s art gallery.
By age 16 she was exhibiting her paintings at both Long Beach’s Public Library and its Municipal Art Center, playing Beethoven and Bartók at piano recitals, and writing poetry.
In the 1990s Tanega founded the group hybridVigor, starting as a duo with Mike Henderson for their first album, then expanding to a trio with the addition of Rebecca Hamm for their second album.
In 1998 Tanega formed the Latin Lizards with Robert Grajeda, and the duo released the album Dangerous in 2003.
Her next band was called Baboonz with guitarist Tom Skelly and bassist Mario Verlangieri. The trio released a self-titled CD in 2008, the album HA! in 2009, and a third called 8 Songs Ate Brains in 2010.
Other recording projects soon followed, including the album Push with John Zeretzke, Twin Journey with Steve Rushingwind Ruiz, and a return collaboration with Ceramic Ensemble sound sculptor Brian Ransom for their album Internal Medicine.
Tanega died of colon cancer on December 29, 2019, at her home in Claremont, California, aged 80.