She was born Mary O'Brien in 1939, the daughter of a tax accountant and a housewife, in London.  In the 1950s, like many other English teens, she became enamored of American music--and in 1958 became a member of a girl group known as "The Lana Sisters."  In 1960 she left the group to form "The Springfields" with brother Dion and Tim Field, who was later replaced by Mike Hurst.  The trio met with significant chart success in both England and America, but by 1963 "The Springfields" had run their course.  By this time Mary was known as Dusty Springfield, and she embarked on a solo career that would launch her to international fame as both a singer and a personality.