Dusty Springfield dies at 59

Dusty Springfield, the husky-voiced singer who had a string of hits in the 1960s has died.

Springfield battled breast cancer for a long time. She died Tuesday night at her home in Henley-on-Thames, England. She was 59.

"She was one of the icons of the music industry," said her manager Paul Fenn. "She was one of the most talented female singers of this century."

She was born in north London on April 16, 1939. Her real name was Mary Isabel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien.

In 1964 she had her first big hit with "I Only Want To Be With You", that was followed with more smashes including "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me", "Wishin' and Hopin'", "Son of a Preacher Man" and "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself."

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994 and after undergoing chemotherapy she was pronounced free of the disease in 1995. A year later the cancer returned.

Tragically, Springfield's death came just 11 days before she was to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen.

In December she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth.