Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien OBE, known professionally as Dusty Springfield, was an English singer. With her distinctive mezzo-soprano sound, she was a significant singer of blue-eyed soul, pop, and dramatic ballads, with French chanson, country, and jazz also in her repertoire.
What happened to Dusty Springfield’s brother?
Songwriter Tom Springfield, the brother of Dusty Springfield and writer of many of The Seekers’ hits, has died at age 88. Tom was born Dionysius ‘Dion’ O’Brien. He formed the band The Springfields with his sister Mary.
Having been waiting, along with Pat Rhodes, for more information for a few days now, we are very saddened to have had confirmation from his solicitor that Dusty’s brother, Tom, passed away at home in London on July 27th.
Being a very private person, the news somehow went under the radar and has only now come to light. Tom, who changed his name by deed poll in 1977 from Dionysius Patrick O’Brien, was 88 years old. Making his name in The Springfields, the group he formed in 1960 with Tim Feild, his sister Mary and later Mike Hurst, they went on to become the number 1 group in the UK before disbanding in the Autumn of 1963.