<Commemorative Page 9>

REMEMBERING DUSTY . . .

[161] In 1967, Dusty's sensual voice stirred the hormones of this 16-year-old boy. But her intensity - putting her all into songs like "Son of a Preacher Man" and "The Look of Love" moved her music to a level beyond sexuality. She will be missed.

Tom
Illinois, USA

[162] What a great loss. I grew up with Dusty as a teenager, loved her music and still love those songs today.

George Mosier
Cave Junction, Oregan, USA

[163] Dear Dusty, I am going to miss you as a human being here on Earth, but thank God I have your 3 CD set which I was playing when you left this Earth. But that still doesn't preclude that you are longer on Earth but hopefully in Heaven, because you were an Angel on Earth. Thank you for making my early twenties a time when great Rock & Roll became the mainstream of music, and you made that music great to listen to. I will never forget your white-soul sound, your gorgeous voice, and your beautiful face. You will never be forgotten, at least by me. All my love, Stephen Michael Kessler.

Stephen M. Kessler
San Franciscan New Yorker

[164] I was so sad to hear of Dusty's passing. I have been a fan for many years. I bought her Golden Hits album in 1983 and last summer found a compilation CD. I have been listening to that CD for the past week. I also have a video of her Sounds of Motown special from 1965. I will miss her terribly. Thank you, Dusty, for all the great music.

James Kelly
Fremont, California, USA

[165] I have loved Dusty's music since I was in my teens. Her music has survived the decades in the music world. That is amazing. Not many artists today can say this. She will be sadly missed.

Mary
Wisconsin

[166] I'm sorry that she's gone, having heard it on ABC World News on Tuesday night, I'll be sure I'll have my T.V. tuned to VH1 to watch her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on St. Patrick's Day, wearing green and black, placing her into immortality.

Mike Smith
Tonkawa, Oklahoma, USA

[167] I'm probably younger than the average Dusty fan, and some might say her music is not the type I'd normally be seen listening to, but she has the most wonderful, enduring voice and it is a sad loss. My mother raised me on Dusty and her music is so varied I'm sure there must be songs there everyone would like. I thought how dignified she was receiving her OBE (Order of the British Empire) award on her death-bed. May her memory and her music live on.

Ben Clifford
Croydon, England

[168] My dearest Dusty, your voice moved me, chilled me. Your musuic has been part of my life even though I am a child of the eighties. Your version of "Ne me quitte pas" will be the first song I will play if I ever get married. I'll miss you and I want us to chat on the spirit plane.

John Dimou
Toronto, Canada

[169] Thanks for the experience of having you around and thanks for the memory of such a talented artiste.

Terry Hatton
Barnstaple, Devon, England

[170] I first heard Dusty in 1994 and have been completely intrigued ever since. She is the best ever! Rest in peace sister. Your #1 fan, Stacia.

Stacia J. Westbrook
Saint Marys, West Virginia, USA

[171] My church has a portion of its service called "Milestones", where anyone wishing to can talk about someone or something that took place during the past week, and light a candle for that person or event. It probably better described by its previous name, "Sharing of Joys and Concerns". Today, I said (I wrote iy in advance), "A pop music legend died this past week. I trust you know about it, and if you're a child of the baby boom like myself, you're familiar with her, so I won't elaborate. I'll just say this one is for Dusty Springfield." I actually got some applause. I'm writing as someone who was certainly aware of, and appreciative of, Dusty's talent and repertoire, but I didn't actually own any of her titles. Until this weekend, that is. I found a CD entitled The Very Best of Dusty Springfield, which certainly looks like it lives up to its title: a mix of most of her hits plus some tracks I'm not familiar with, 20 in all. It's the first Dusty title in my collection, but it won't be the last. I'm originally from New England, which is why I was looking at the website of the Boston Herald the other day. Their music critic, Larry Katz, wrote a very nice piece on Dusty. Quoting, in part, from his article: "Where did you file Dusty's records? That was the question I asked myself after falling under the spell of her two greatest albums, Dusty in Memphis and A Brand New Me. My record collection was organized by musical styles, one being rock and pop, another being soul and rhythm and blues . . . So where did these two albums belong? I put them where the Arethas and Otis Reddings went: in the soul section. That made Springfield one of the very few white artists in there and certainly the only English female. But it was where she deserved to be. Dusty had soul." Katz went on to note Dusty's forthcoming and, sadly, posthumous induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next week, and summed up, "In the end, she's where she belongs: the Hall of Fame category." Amen.

Will Burpee
Springfield, Illonios, USA

[172] To Dusty, a star in every way. Without exception the greatest female singer Britain ever produced. I feel that part of my life in the 60s and 70s has died with you. You were never fully appreciated in life . . . you are sadly missed in death. Another bright star shines in Heaven tonight. Sleep well. Love always, Ian.

Ian Ross
London, UK

[173] I am an Aussie baby-boomer woman whose life has been buoyed, enriched and blessed by the extraordinary talent of dear Dusty Springfield. She was "there with me" through all my heartaches, the exquisite torture of new loves. She has been an understanding intimate who expressed so much that I couldn't articulate. She was such a wonderful, talented and brave woman and I feel such deep sadness having learned that she has passed on. I hope that her friends and family, those who were closest to her are comforted by all the love and prayers from those of us who were touched by her talent via concerts, recordings and filmed images. She will always remain a sweet and gorgeous presence in our lives, a rare and precious gift . . . truly a blessing. At peace now brave one.

Jan Lacey
Melbourne, Australia

[174] Dusty came into my life when I was about 14 years old. That was about 33 years ago. I loved her music. In a sense, she helped me through those difficult teen years at a time when many of us were questioning everything. Her music had a way of reaching inside my heart and caressing the raw pain of a difficult decade. I could put my Dusty albums on the turntable and wail along with her in the privacy of my bedroom and be transported from all that was confusing and all that was lonely about that time. I just want her to know that she did that for me. I just want her to know that I love her.

Frank Stovall
Portland, Oregon

[175] Goodbye Dusty. You brought a lot of joy into my life with your wonderful voice and the emotion you put into your songs. "All I See Is You" and "Goin' Back". I will always remember you. All my love, John.

John Harris
Redruth, Cornwall, UK

[176] Thank you, Dusty, for the joy and inspiration your singing has given me and all the world. I hope you're breaking God's tea things as I write this. Bless you.

Tom O'Leary
Los Angeles, California, USA

[177] My dearest Dusty . . . I've loved you more than any number . . . and numbers never stop.

Richard Pipes
Sydney, Australia

[178] Goodbye Dusty and thanks for all the hours of pleasure. Your music will live on. You have many, many fans in New Zealand.

Glen
New Zealand

[179] I learned of Dusty's passing as I walked in Times Square after an evening performance. It flashed on the news ticker and my heart dropped. It was a very sad moment. Dusty (Mary) and her friends and family are in my prayers. I thank God that her voice and her emotion came to life and now they comfort me.

Jeff
New York City, USA

[180] From one Mary O'Brien to another: You've been a great inspiration and a constant source of musical happiness and familiarity. Thanks!

Mary O'Brien
Sydney, Australia

A WOMAN OF REPUTE'S

COMMEMORATIVE SITE

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | BACK TO PAGE 8 | PAGE 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15