Dusty Springfield's Influence On My Music
By Dawayne Bailey

Greetings. My name is Dawayne Bailey. I'm a musician/singer/writer and have been in the music business most of my life. I was a young boy when I first heard the incredible and soulful voice of Dusty Springfield rising out of my family's radio in our kitchen. Back in 1964, I had already been completely taken by the whole British Invasion and decided that I too was going to pursue music full time.

All 7 of my brothers and sisters were each relegated to clean one room of our home everyday. The radio was in the kitchen, so I jumped at being the one in charge there everyday. The weekly charts were my life as a kid during the summer. After my chores were finished, it was time to practice and play many of the songs I had heard repeated on the radio all day.

That's how I really developed my ear and my singing voice-singing along with the radio. From my earliest years to now, I've always had a very high tenor voice and usually had more fun singing along with the females on the radio at the time.

Aretha Franklin, Jackie DeShannon, Petula Clark, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross and one very husky, sexy voice that really captured my attention-and that was the voice of Dusty Springfield. Wishin' & Hopin', Silver Threads & Golden Needles, I Only Want To Be With You, Son Of A Preacher Man, Look Of Love, Anyone Who had A Heart, You Don't Have To Say You Love Me and on and on.

No one sang with a tone like Dusty and when ever she would be on television, I was glued front center. At first I didn't know she was another British import just like The Beatles and Petula Clark, because her voice was so soulful and laid back that it seemed like she was an American Southern girl.

One of my all-time favorite Dusty albums is the one where she sings all those classic Bacharach & David songs. I also love the Dusty In Memphis record, even though as I was told, she didn't record it in Memphis literally, but it was a natural for her because as I said, I had always thought that's where she was from.

Anyway, I just wanted to share thoughts about one of my earliest influences who I still listen to with the same freshness as the first day I ever heard that gorgeous voice come oozing out of the AM radio many years ago. We're all the luckier for getting to experience her being in our lifetime and I for one will never forget Dusty or her lessons in how to sing a great soul song. I'm still learning from her and loving every minute of it.

Very sincerely, Dawayne Bailey.

NOTE: Dawayne Bailey was a guitarist for the legendary rock band Chicago from 1986 to 1994 and other artists he has performed with include Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band, and the French singer Veronique Sanson. Visit Dawayne's website and discussion forum.

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