For one unforgettable stretch in 1981, millions could hear him on the radio and see him on television in the same day.
Rick Springfield turns 77 today, Aug. 23, celebrating a career that has kept him onstage and onscreen for more than five decades. The Australian singer, songwriter and actor became one of the era’s most recognizable stars through a rare combination of rock success and daytime television fame.
Born Richard Lewis Springthorpe in Sydney, Springfield moved frequently as a child because of his father’s military career. He learned guitar while living in England and continued playing after his family returned to Australia. His early music career included a stint with the Australian band Zoot before he pursued solo success and eventually relocated to the United States.
Springfield spent much of the 1970s recording music while building a second career as an actor. After making appearances on shows including The Six Million Dollar Man, Wonder Woman and Battlestar Galactica, he joined ABC’s General Hospital as Dr. Noah Drake in 1981.
That same year, Springfield released Working Class Dog, the album featuring “Jessie’s Girl.” The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on Aug. 1, 1981, while Springfield was appearing regularly on the daytime drama.
He later recalled the exact moment he learned the single had conquered the chart. “I was at Sound City in the rehearsal room getting ready for my first tour, and my manager, Joe Godfrey, came in with a cheap bottle of champagne…and said, ‘We just hit number one,'” Springfield told the New York Post in 2025.
“Jessie’s Girl” also earned Springfield the 1982 Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. He followed it with hits including “I’ve Done Everything for You,” “Don’t Talk to Strangers” and “Affair of the Heart” while continuing to act.
Springfield remains a busy live performer at 77. His current tour schedule includes full-band concerts across the United States through December 2026, proving that the musician who dominated both television and radio in 1981 still has no plans to slow down.
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