Surely one of the greatest songs ever! Dusty (real name Mary Isabel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien) was practically a Goddess in my eyes. She was PURE soul
through and
through.
Written by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins, and released in 1968 on the Dusty in Memphis classic album in stereo, and in mono on the single. The album sold only 100,000 copys in the States (a very small amount for a major artist), but later recieved a Grammy Hall Of Fame award and the album was listed among the one hundred greatest albums of all time by Rolling Stone and VH1 artists, New Musical Express readers and the Channel 4 viewers polls. The single was a top ten hit in the UK America, Austria and Switzerland.
Son of a Preacher Man was originally offered to Aretha Franklin, who turned it down.
Dusty sadly succumbed to cancer on March 2, 1999. She died in Henley-on-Thames on the day she had been due to go to Buckingham Palace to receive her award of Officer, Order of the British Empire. Before her death, officials of the Queen had given permission for the medal to be collected by Springfield's manager, Vicki Wickham and it was presented to the singer in the hospital where they had been joined by a small party of friends and relatives. Her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, had been scheduled for 10 days after her death. Her friend Sir Elton John helped induct her into the Hall of Fame, stating: "I think she is the greatest white singer that there ever has been".
Info taken from Wikipedia.