Fact Check: Did Rick Springfield ever sing on General Hospital?

Australian-American rockstar, Rick Springfield, was part of the daily soap, General Hospital, between 1981-1983, 2005-2008, and 2012-2013, intermittently. He famously played the neurosurgeon Dr. Noah Drake on the show besides briefly playing the patient, Eli Love. His character as the neurosurgeon was considered a serious one. As such, Springfield as Drake was never seen singing, despite his popularity as a singer.

Fans of General Hospital know the American daily soap premiered in April 1963 and is one of the longest-running shows on ABC. The show is set in the fictional area of Port Charles showcasing the dynamics among the town's residents and people connected with the titular medical facility.

As such, characters move in and out of the storyline following their story arcs, as do the actors. One such character was Noah Drake who appeared in the soap infrequently, as the plot demanded. While Springfield's Noah did not sing on the show initially, Springfield sang when Noah had to stand in for his rockstar look-alike Eli Love for a concert and even made an appearance as himself to perform in the 2013 Nurses' Ball.

---

General Hospital: Why did Springfield not sing initially in the soap?

Rick Springfield had joined the cast of General Hospital in 1981 as an alternate career prospect. At the time his music career had not made him famous. On the other hand, his character, Dr. Noah Drake, was a serious neurosurgeon.

While the producers did not think singing fit the character of the doctor, the summer of 1981 saw the soap reach its peak popularity. At the same time, Springfield's number, Jessie's Girl, hit the top spot in the music charts. It is believed that Springfield's music and General Hospital boosted each other's popularity.

The rockstar initially worked for two years and left in 1983 to go on musical tours. However, the channel invited him to return to the character and he rejoined in 2005 to appear from time to time till 2013. Springfield sang on the soap for the first time on August 23, 2007, in Eli Love's story arc.

In 2007, the character of Eli Love was introduced into the show also reprised by Springfield. As per the storyline, Eli was Dr. Noah's look-alike and a rockstar needing surgery at the hospital. However, patient Eli refused surgery as he had an upcoming performance for a charity. Anna Devane convinced Noah to step onto the stage in place of Eli so that the patient could be operated upon.

After the Eli Love story arc concluded, Noah Drake's arc continued till 2013. The Nurses' Ball held in April 2013 saw Dr. Noah Drake arrange for singer Rick Springfield to attend and perform at the occasion. As such, Springfield appeared as himself and sang on the show in 2013. The singer-actor exited the soap after that when Noah boarded the same flight as Bobbie Spencer and informed her about his leaving Port Charles to join a hospital in Seattle.

---

A brief look at General Hospital fame Rick Springfield

While rock-pop star Rick Springfield's acting career spills beyond General Hospital, his role as Noah Drake made him a household name. An E! Entertainment article dated October 18, 2005, reported Springfield telling Soap Opera Weekly that the popularity of Noah Drake amazed him.

His music career started in 1972 with his collection, Beginnings, and he has more than 28 discs to his credit. He has also worked in three movies, Hard to Hold, Ricki and the Flash, and Traces. He has made numerous television appearances in shows that range across multiple genres. Some of the notable titles that Spriegfield was part of include Human Target, High Tide, Suddenly Susan, Californication, True Detective, Supernatural, Dead Reckoning, Legion, Nick Knight, and many more.

---

While Rick Springfield is not part of the soap anymore, General Hospital continues to air on ABC every weekday.