Gracie Fields
Gracie Fields
Gracie Fields began by singing along to gramophone recordings of opera. At the age of ten she joined a juvenile troupe and at 15 went solo.
In 1927 she began her recording career and her first success was My Blue Heaven. On its flip side was a comic version of Because I Love You. Many of her future recordings would have a serious song on one side and a comic one on the other.
On February 14th 1933 Gracie celebrated her record-breaking four millionth record sale. She was so prolific and popular that 120 people were employed full-time at the HMV factory just to produce her records.
By the mid-1930s Gracie had become the biggest female draw in the British cinema. Hollywood began to take an interest and she signed a contract with 20th Century Fox for $200,000, which they described as "the highest salary ever paid to a human being".
Gracie
During the Second World War, while recovering from cancer treatment, Gracie travelled the world entertaining the troops, raising millions of dollars for the war effort.
She continued her successful career after the war and in 1978, aged 80, appeared as a surprise guest at her 10th Royal Command performance singing a verse of Sally for the Queen Mother.
Gracie Fields was made a Dame in July 1979 but was taken ill with pneumonia shortly afterwards and died on 27th September 1979.
Gracie the Performer
Gracie Speaks Out
Gracie With Army Cadets
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