Ian Gillan, renowned for his powerful Deep Purple vocals, considered Dusty Springfield the greatest rock singer he had ever heard. His admiration reflected Springfield’s exceptional vocal force and emotional intensity, which could rival—and sometimes surpass—that of celebrated male rock performers.

Gillan formed his view after touring with Springfield in 1965, praising her ability to “rock” despite her association primarily with soul and R&B. The article highlights *Dusty in Memphis*, including “Son of a Preacher Man”, as evidence of her passionate singing, while noting that her live performances with a full band made her impact even more striking.