WOMAN OF REPUTE
CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who have
contacted me with praise and suggestions for this site. I'd also like to
convey my own, and I know countless others', best wishes to
Dusty who continues to undergo treatment for cancer.
Six months later I was living in Minneapolis, U.S.A., embarking on a whole new life. I
had brought with me a copy of the article and a photo of the display, and decided to send them to
Dusty. Two months later I received a letter from Pat Rhodes,
Dusty's secretary in London, who informed
me that Dusty had read and enjoyed my article.
The photo had been returned and signed "To Michael, love Dusty."
It was a wonderful surprise, as I had assumed Dusty
would keep the photo.
Not long after, I heard the news that Dusty had
been diagnosed with cancer a few months previously. My article and photo would have arrived
when she was first dealing with this crisis in her life. The fact that
Dusty had taken the time to respond in such a personal
way will always impress me. Thanks, Dusty!
Many people who have signed the guestbook have shared similar stories of
Dusty's generousity and kindness.
Many also clearly assume that Dusty is either
involved in the maintenance of
this site or has regular access to it. Neither is the case. Accordingly,
I'm currently in the process of printing out various parts of
the site with the intention of sending them to Dusty
at the end of the month via her manager Vicki
Wickham. For this reason I am including on this page comments and messages
from various people who have either signed the guestbook or e-mailed me directly.
Some of these messages are directed to Dusty
, others to myself as creator of this site.
All reflect the great love that people from all parts of the
world have for one of the truly great vocalists of our time and a very
special and beautiful individual - Dusty Springfield
.
Michael J. Bayly
August 7, 1998
Dr. Patricia Juliana Smith
Department of English,
University of California, Los Angeles
Ron Edes
Alan Morrison
James Craig Heggie
Garth J. Caron
Marcelline
David Di Carlo
Arne Strom
fe contreras
Jacob R. Clark
Chrissie
Clarence Moore
Peter John
Peter Meadows
Ian Ripley
Craig
Leanne Douglas
Don Charles
Donna Frost
Kevin Cavanaugh
Bob Giampietro
Paul Elphick
Bob Rogala
Mickey and David
Steve Price
David MacMillan
Ralph Covino
Theo van Ouwerkerk
Stefan Sitti
Rodney T. Adams
Jeffrey Moline
Tutte
Geraldine Moyle
Jim Patterson
J. Nelson
John Emerick
Tom Cooper
Marc Forester
Brian Watson
Shauna Smith
Andy Robinson
Stephen Price
Dan Flanery
Simon Bell
Grant Whittingham
David Torresen
Evan Mahaney
Frederick Woodruff
Brian
Steve Shutt
Garth J. Caron
Rita Adams
Kerry and Sandra
Mary Lou Rentz
Tralvex (Rex) Yeap
Christopher Mitchell
Natalee Moon
Donna Braegelmann
"No singer, past or present, is as talented as Dusty Springfield!
Name a singer of today who will be around 40 years from now, still recording and still popular.
Trust me; there aren't any! There's no such thing as longevity in the music business anymore!
My best to Dusty always. Her music has brought so much joy and happiness to people all over the world.
We love her here in the U.S., that's for sure! . . . Get well soon, Dusty!"
"Dearest Dusty, you have always been my number one
female singer in all the years from my early teens. I have always marvelled at
the range and scope and diversity of your own unique style. I can sing along to
all your songs with you and feel the very soul of your music, the
background singers, and the orchestration of your own very personal style.
I hope and pray that you get well soon. A devoted fan. Take care.
Lots of love."
"What can I say? Dusty is unique; a voice and a person of real talent and ability.
She has been part of my life for 35 years and I have to thank her for sharing with me that voice and
her amazing style. I can only wish her the very best of happiness and health for the years to come.
She is just the best!!"
"[Dusty,] I have always loved your music and enjoy all of your recordings.
You were the best Britain had to offer! Great stuff and [I] look forward in
hearing more great music in the future! Keep up the fight and remember many of us
out there admire and enjoy the voice you have given us. You're a treasure!"
"Dusty, keep fighting - the world still needs you! Should you ever read this, a group of
us in Cleveland were talking about you last night and wondering if we could
get you to come to Cleveland to do a show! No joke! That is why I was looking for
you on the net. Good luck and hope to see you in person, but also in the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!"
"Dusty has filled my musical life with so much joy.
Unlike so many singers who I loved as a child, I am still in awe [of Dusty]
as I continue to find new reasons for considering her one of the Greatest Singers of
our time. Despite her fame, she is still not celebrated enough! Her
intelligence, versatility and absolute uniqueness bolster her stature in
a league of Legends. . . "
"I've been a fan of Dusty's ever since 1963 and "I
Only Want To Be With You". Dusty to me has always been the greatest
singer I have come across. Best wishes and good luck to you Dusty . . ."
"Hi Dusty! I'm one of your fans since I was in high school.
I even tried singing your songs in [a] contest . . .
I'm 46 years [of age] now and I still listen to your songs, as a matter of fact,
a guy at my work . . . is very much your fan too, and has most, if not all
your collections of songs. . . He is planning to venture into Vancouver BC to
see if [there] are CDs of you [there] that are not available in the U.S. I have
tried very much to access your website and finally today I was able to . . .
hopefully I can print some news of you [for] Gerry (the guy) . . . We are worried about your health, but I know that
you are strong and will win this battle. We are here too to pray for your
early recovery so you can get back to singing again. We all are anxious to
hear your beautiful voice that God [has] blessed you with. Please stay strong
and keep the faith. We love you."
"Ms Springfield is my favorite vocalist of all time,
and I am praying that she wins [her] struggle involving a recurrence of
her recent illness. While I have never met Ms. Springfield, I have
spoken to her manager, Vicki Wickham, in the past. Ms. Wickham
generously provided me with an address to which I could send Dusty a
birthday gift (a book of poems about cats). To my surprise, several
weeks later I received a note from Ms. Springfield's personal assistant
verifying that she had received the book, "loved it," and returned my generosity by
sending me a personalized autographed photo that I framed and keep near
my record collection. To me, it meant a lot. Celebrities rarely have
time for us "little people" - the fans. Ms. Springfield . . . please know that all of
our prayers are with you at this time."
"Hi! My mum had a traumatic life until she divorced my father and
began her "second childhood". She quickly made up for lost time and
knew more about music than us teenagers - a treat for us. She was as
much a friend as a mother. Her interest in Dusty's music grew rapidly
and she decided she wanted to be involved, contacting the fanclub and
eventually being involved with that as well as meeting Dusty. My dominant
memory is that, even though Dusty was so busy, she found time to meet
mum . . . that meant so much to a woman who was developing a new found
confidence as a single person and bringing up six children. I used to
think "pop stars" were all untouchable, and icons who wouldn't deign to
meet with mere mortals such as us public. I was wrong, well, regarding Dusty
anyway. Mum said [that Dusty] was a warm lovable person with the well
documented sense of fun. Sadly mum died of cancer but had a message from
Dusty with the demo of the song containing the lyrics "What Have I Done
To Deserve This?" arriving before she died. It was a real treat for
mum and for this and more, I thank you Dusty for remaining human as well
as extremely talented. You'll never know what pleasure you gave mum by your
kindness. I think of you often and wish you well. My tabby cat 'Squiggle' sends
purrs to Nicholas."
"Dusty is the British Queen of Soul and Pop. She's the best singer
ever to emerge from the U.K., and proof that you don't have to be black
or American to have soul. She's a true original and if they don't induct
her into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame there is just no reason for the darn
place to exist. . ."
"I can't say how pleased I am to have found Dusty
on the web. It is brilliant to have a little part of her in my home.
Dusty has been a great influence in my life in more ways than one,
and for that I thank her from the bottom of my heart. Her music has had
a major impact since 1963, and I have followef her musical career for the
last 35 years since I saw her at the Capitol Theatre in Cardirff and
offered her a peanut (well I was only 11 . . . ). She said she would rather
have a cough sweet! Thank you Dusty. My thoughts are with you now and
always. Looking forward to more music in the future. You can do it!!"
"I have always been a fan of Dusty - I have seen her shows
from the early '60s in London, bought her recordings and followed her career."
"I've been a fan of Dusty's since the mid-sixties and still think
that she is the best female pop singer I've ever heard. She must be the greatest white
female soul singer ever and ranks alongside Aretha Franklin as the best ever. Long may she
reign."
"I've admired Dusty's voice for quite a while, but
never owned any of her music until two weeks ago when I purchased the
Dusty in Memphis CD. I have a fairly extensive CD collection and it
is now my favorite of all my CDs. I've listened to it twice a day since
I purchased it and don't think I will get tired of it. Dusty performed the
songs on this CD with finesse, grace and sophistication. I love all of
the songs . . . I hope Dusty fights and beats her illness and continues
singing for many years to come."
"I'm a singer/musician, inspired by Dusty. I have an all
girl '60s band called Leanne and the SurfBROADS . . ."
". . . Dusty's music, along with that of songwriter/producer
Jeff Barry (whom she worked with in 1971) was a major motivation for
me wanting to enter the field of rock journalism. I can't get enough
of her (my favorite recording is "Your Hurtin' Kind of Love"), and I buy every
one of her British albums I can get my hands on! I wish her success
in her current battle against cancer."
"Just wanted to send a note of love and encouragement to
Dusty. I have grown up on her music and she influenced me - I am a
professional entertainer today. I am listening to my "Very Best of Dusty
Springfield" CD, which is a must for anyone's collection - I listen to it lots!
I just want to say Dusty, you have been an inspiration for female artists,
you've brought joy to so many people with your wonderful voice and songs,
keep fighting the fight. I love you and pray for you to be well!"
"God speed Dusty . . . Your voice to me is still
'In the Land of Make Believe.' Thanks so much for the music."
"Well done site. Thank you! . . . Best wishes to
Dusty. She is one of the greats!
"Without doubt [Dusty is] Britain's finest female
vocal talent. As Dusty once said, 'There are female singers who are much
better than I will ever be. The difference is that when people hear my
voice they know straight away that it is Dusty Springfield.' Enough said!"
"Sixties music shaped the person I am today.
[Dusty,] thanks for helping in that shaping. Good luck and good health
to you. You have been added to my prayers."
"[Dusty,] you've been an inspiration to us. You've been a tower of strength in
your songs to me, especially during a very important coming out period which
has been very traumatic - but I made it."
"Hi Dusty! What can one say about you. Your music has been part of my life
and always will be. I want to say thanks for the pleasure that your work has provided me over
the years. All I have to do is put on a Dusty Springfield song and the
memories just come back. You're the greatest. Hopefully you'll be better
soon. Lots of Love. By the way, hope you don't mind, I named my pet
schnauzer after you."
"I love Dusty. This site is great . . ."
"Dusty Springfield is nothing short of the greatest pop and soul singer in
the genre. Her music is timeless and will live on and on. I cannot say enough about how much joy and
beauty she has brought into my life through her glorious music. My heartfelt wish
is that Dusty will survive this health set back and return soon to doing what
we all love her for. I pray for her daily and wish her happiness and
complete recovery."
"Dear Michael, I don't know if Dusty ever reads your website. If she does then give
her my best regards. I hope she will find the strength to continue. Once
I had the privilege to meet her shortly before she was going to Ready, Steady, Go.
The kiss she then gave me [was] kept on my face until it had worn out. . .
Thanks for what you did on these pages."
"Michael, what a beautiful homepage . . . keep up the
good work. Dusty is by far the most talented and most un-recognized
vocalist of all time. She is so versatile and sensitive, and your webpage
reflects those qualities very very well. Your in-depth work is really
quite amazing. . ."
"This site is brilliant! What a tribute to such a fine
woman. The author of this site is to be applauded, Bravo! Such a vivid use
of color, graphics, photos, and interesting text. I can only assume
that Ms. Springfield is pleased as punch."
"Wow! A most impressive page. The detailed information about
Dusty is fantastic. I am one of Dusty's legion of gay fans. In the early
eighties a friend, Jimmy, turned me on to her. She is brilliant. I love
her music, her style, and I thank you for a great site."
"I love Dusty's voice. I'm happy to see "Woman of
Repute." [It] is the best homepage I've hit so far on the net. Keep up
the good work."
"Michael, thank you for a wonderful page that repays revisiting! Your bio of
Dusty is better than anything I've seen in publication.
Love to you and health to Dusty!"
"Thanks for doing such a great job. It does Dusty Springfield proud.
Health to Dusty!
"Great website for a great singer . . ."
"Excellent site! Actually, I'm surprised [Dusty's] not in
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame already . . . Her voice sends a chill down
my spine every time I hear it. Not much else I can say . . . she's a
special lady."
"Very glad to find your site. Beautifully done!
Wonderful tribute to a wonderful star . . ."
"This is a fantastic website!!! I have been a
great admirer of Dusty's music since 1982 when I wrote a review of
White Heat for my high school newspaper. The review did not run
because no one else at the paper was familiar with the music of "Rick
Springfield's sister" (Rick should be so lucky!). Even so, it was my
introduction to an incredible artist with a one-of-a-kind voice.
Shortly after wearing out that copy of White Heat, I discovered Dusty's
classics from the '60s and '70s, and I have been hooked ever since. Dusty
is a very gifted, criminally underrated singer. She is fortunate to
have such a great website in her honor. Keep up the great work!!"
". . . This is a really good site, and I appreciate all the work that
has obviously gone into it. I don't know if a friend has told Dusty about this
site but, if so, I hope it helps her to know people care about her when
she is not at her best."
"This is amazing . . . A lot of love obviously went into this
site. I hope Ms. Springfield herself has had a chance to see it!"
"I want to thank you for producing such an excellent website.
Dusty is, in my opinion, the best singer the world has ever witnessed. Her emotive style, musical
interpretation, and ability to convey a song from deep within her is something unique to
Dusty alone. I hope with all my heart that her recent battle with cancer will be won
and that she will be able to record once more. . ."
"Hi Michael, I wanted to drop you a note to say how much I love your
"Woman of Repute" website. I have it bookmarked and check it regularly. I grew up
in the '60s in England and well remember the impact that [Dusty] had on my life
. . . Keep up the good work."
"Mr. Bayly, congratulations! Your site, "Dusty Springfield: Woman
of Repute," has been given The Annie Lennox Homepage's "Must See Site
Award." The award is given periodically to a site that should be of interest to
most Lennox fans. An award-winning site must display exceptional design
or content. Your page - with its in-depth biography, photographs,
extensive quotes, and comprehensive news - certainly meets those criteria.
It was a spectacular find, and my hope is that those who visit my Links page
will consider your site an unexpected surprise as well. . . Thank you, and
thank you for your fantastic page! It's . . . well, a winner!"
The Annie Lennox Hamepage
"Hi Michael, just a few words to say how much I liked your pages on
Dusty. I am a close friend of her's and have been singing with her since
1978 . . . Good luck with everything you do, especially against the
landmines.
The Simon Bell Homepage
Hi Michael, I have recently found your web site and am pleased to see
that Dusty has another web site. I started mine because there was nothing, so
let's hope that she finally gets the recognition she deserves on the
internet. . . Thank you for putting a link to my site. . . I think your
pages look good and you have done a great job on the biography.
A Girl Called Dusty
"Michael, your Dusty site is great, especially
the very thoughtful essays."
Loving Lee:
A Tribute to the Incomparable Artistry of Miss Peggy Lee
"Hi Michael. Discovered your Dusty web-site some
time ago and am still delving into it. Thanks to you we finally have a
worthy presentation of Dusty for others to discover. . . [I] grew up
listening to and collecting Dusty records when she first arrived on the
scene with the Springfields and then solo. . . needless to say, when the
Pet Shop Boys rediscovered her and provided a new platform for her in the
'80s, I couldn't have been more elated. The voice remained - but she just needed direction.
I did see her perform live once in New York City in 1981 at a
supperclub on the upper West Side. She had a bad cold, but came out with full resolve . . ."
"Michael, just lost an hour or so perusing your
awesome web site/shrine to Dusty Springfield. You did a bang up job and are
to be commended! . . ."
"Michael, thank you, thank you, thank you for the
excellent Dusty Springfield site! It is wonderful. I did a web search in the
spring, and there was nothing of any substance on her. And now there is
yours and "A Girl Called Dusty." Finally! The pictures, graphics, and
information are all top notch . . . Keep up the good work!"
"Dear Michael, just a line to join the throngs who no doubt
have been madly emailing you to tell you of the beauty and splendor of your
site devoted to everyone's favorite pop goddess, the Divine Dusty Springfield!
I'm still slowly exploring the site, but have particularly enjoyed the
quotes and images you brought together for the biography pages. . . Thanks
so much for sharing your erudition and all your wonderful trove of images. I have
bookmarked your site and plan to visit it many times. . . "
Michael - Thank you!! I've been ashamed for not delivering
kudos the day your site went online . . . "Woman of Repute" is THE web bible for
our woman, so far as I am concerned, until I post MY tribute site! . . . "
"Keep up the good work. Dusty will live forever whilst
her music is appreciated."
"Wow!!! Great website, Michael!!"
"This is an excellent site. Dusty Springfield is a
voice I spent my early childhood listening to. I was probably the only
kid in the neighborhood at [age] five, with a transistor radio
permanently attached to my ear. At 42, I still can't tire of listening to
Dusty."
"Great Dusty website!"
"I love the site . . ."
"The website is great. I've been a Dusty fan
for years and it's neat to have access to this information at my
fingertips."
"Michael, I just visited your website. I love it! Superb!
Congratulations on the one year anniversary of your website!
