Songwriter/producer Tom Springfield has died at his home in London. He was 88.
News of Tom’s passing took a few weeks to come to us. He actually died on July 27th.
A t this time we have no further information.
He was born Dionysius Patrick O’Brien on July 2, 1934, in West Hampstead, London.
Forming The Springfields with Dusty and Tim Feild, they began a successful career on record and television. Tom composed Island Of Dreams, Say I Won’t Be There & Come On Home before they split and Dusty went solo. Dusty’s Losing You & Summer Is Over were written by Tom.
He then teamed up with The Seekers, writing I’ll Never Find Another You, A World Of Our Own, Georgy Girl (nominated for an Oscar), and The Carnival Is Over (based on a traditional Russian folk song Tom had become familiar with during National Service).
The surving Seekers have issued a statement: "We have heard reports that Tom Springfield has died. 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”. Tom went on to record solo projects including Sun Songs in 1968.
In later life Tom was content to live a quiet life, with recording projects just for his own pleasure.
The last time I saw him was in HMV in Oxford Street, where he was checking out his sister’s section.
Pat Rhodes and myself are very sad to hear of Tom’s passing. May he rest in peace.
Simon Bell