Songwriter Tom Springfield, the brother of Dusty Springfield and writer of many of The Seekers hits, has died at age 88.
Tom was born Dionysuis ‘Dion’ O’Brien. He formed the band The Springfields with his sister Mary. She became Dusty Springfield, he became Tom.
The Springfields had UK hits with ‘Breakaway’ and ‘Bambino’ in 1961, ‘Island of Dreams’ in 1962 and ‘Say I Won’t Be There’ in 1963. In Australia, The Springfields also had a number two hit with ‘Silver Threads and Golden Needles’.
The Springfields broke up in 1963 when Dusty left to start a solo career. Tom continued to write and became the principal songwriter for Australia’s The Seekers. He wrote The Seekers biggest hits ‘Georgy Girl’, ‘The Carnival Is Over’ ‘I’ll Never Find Another You’ and ‘A World of Our Own’.
The Seekers’ singer Judith Durham died on 5 August, 2022, a week after Tom but Tom’s passing was not known at the time of Judith’s passing.
Tom’s songs were sung by Frank Ifield and Jose Feliciano. In 1970 he also recorded the duet ‘Morning Please Don’t Come’ with his sister Dusty.
Tom Springfield died at his home in 27 July 2022 at age 88 but his passing has only just been announced.
The official Facebook page for Tom’s sister, the late Dusty Springfield, has announced:
Having been waiting, along with Pat Rhodes, for more information for a few days now, we are very saddened to have had confirmation from his solicitor that Dusty’s brother, Tom, passed away at home in London on July 27th. Being a very private person, the news somehow went under the radar and has only now come to light. Tom, who changed his name by deed poll in 1977 from Dionysius Patrick O’Brien, was 88 years old. Making his name in The Springfields, the group he formed in 1960 with Tim Feild, his sister Mary and later Mike Hurst, they went on to become the number 1 group in the UK before disbanding in the Autumn of 1963. Having written many hits and album tracks for the Springfields, following the break up he became one of the prominent songwriters of the 1960’s providing hits for Dusty, The Seekers, Frank Ifield, Anita Harris, Jose Feliciano and many others. Bless you Tom, rest in peace and thank you for the magic of your music.
Dusty Springfield passed away on 2 March 1999.
In a statement, The Seekers said:
“We have heard reports that Tom Springfield has died. A great part of our sadness now includes dear Tom Springfield. Tom was our fifth Seeker and we could not have done it without him. He was our creative heart and soul. A truly gifted songwriter, guiding light and powerhouse”.
– Athol Guy, Keith Potger and Bruce Woodley
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