Background
The son of an Australian army officer, Springfield frequently moved
throughout his childhood, living in both Australia and England. While in
high school, he developed an affinity for music, began playing the
guitar, and formed a band called the Jordy Boys. He went on to perform
with the groups Rock House and Zoot before launching a solo singing
career with the 1971 Australian hit "Speak to the Sky."
Education
While in high school, he developed an affinity for music, began playing the guitar, and formed a band called the Jordy Boys.
Career
After an auspicious solo debut in Australia, Springfield was signed
by the American-based label Capitol Records. In 1972, he moved to Los
Angeles and released the album Beginnings. Featuring many of his
previous Australian hits, including a new version of "Speak to the Sky,"
the album fared well on the charts. To Springfield's dismay, critics
immediately labeled him the next teen pop idol. In 1973, in an attempt
to shed his bubble gum image, Springfield moved to Columbia Records,
where he recorded the disappointing LP Comic Book Heroes.
In the mid-1970s, Springfield temporarily shelved his music career
and concentrated on acting, appearing on several popular television
programs like The Rockford Files, Wonder Woman, The Incredible Hulk, and The Six-Million Dollar Man.
In 1980, he managed to secure a recording contract with RCA. While
recording with the label, Springfield was cast as the dashing Dr. Noah
Drake on the popular daytime drama General Hospital. As his popularity skyrocketed among soap opera fans, Springfield released the album Working Class Dogs,
which yielded the now-classic singles "I've Done Everything For You"
and "Jessie's Girl." The latter song earned him a Grammy Award and
became known as an anthem of the 1980s??a time when his feathered hair,
tightly-suited body, and boyish face became hallmarks of the era.
Springfield recorded the well-received albums Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet (1982) and Living in Oz (1983) before making his cinematic debut in the romantic drama Hard to Hold (1984). While his female fans flocked to theaters, the film received lukewarm reviews from most critics.
Throughout the 1990s, Springfield's work mainly consisted of made-for-TV movies, including Dead Reckoning (1990), Silent Motive (1991), A Change of Place (1994), and Dying to Dance (1999). Later that year, he released his first new album in over a decade, Karma, which received generally positive reviews.
He went solo in 1971 (see 1971 in music) but was unable to maintain much of a career in the 1970s. He had a successful acting career, beginning with a brief role as Zac in the 1978 movie Battlestar Galactica. He then became a soap opera actor, most notable for appearing on General Hospital. With a rabid fanbase, Springfield returned to music with Working Class Dog and the singles "Jessie's Girl" and "I've Done Everything for You".
Springfield won a Grammy in 1981 for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for "Jessie's Girl". Springfield was also nominated for two Grammys in 1982 and one Grammy in 1983
After a few albums with some hit singles, Springfield's lack of critical acceptance slowed his career, though he continued releasing albums throughout the 1980s. He played a few minor roles on television in the 1990s, and released a successful comeback album in 1999.
Although his achievements are not well recognised in Australia, he has long maintained a large and fiercely loyal fan base in the United States and his many career achievements include a Grammy Award, four platinum albums, twenty US Top 100 singles and seventeen Top 40 hits including a US #1 and #2 single.
From February 2001 through December 2002, Springfield performed in EFX Alive! at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada to critical acclaim.