Dusty Springfield was originally born as Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien on April 16th, 1939. The singer passed away in 1999 from breast cancer. Shortly before her death, though, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
dustyspringfield.org
Dusty’s rendition of the popular song is the most well known (besides Creedence Clear Water Revival’s version, released a year prior). Dusty Springfield was caucasian and British, but she sang as if she was born with a true African American soul. In 1968, her unique voice earned her a deal with Atlantic Records under the mentorship of its hottest producer at the time, Wexler. She got to travel down south to Dixie R&B to record the gospel-tinged Dusty in Memphis. Ok, well maybe she did actually record vocals in New York, but regardless- her sweet, tangy voice mesmerized won all the ears and hearts of the South. The song is about a young girl who runs off with the son of a preacher, every time the preacher comes to visit. The “Son of a Preacher Man” seduces her and teaches her all about how to love. That being said, the son of this preacher man is the only boy she has ever loved.
Do you know who the Preacher actually was? Click “next” to find out…