Gracie Fields

Gracie Fields, professional name of Grace Stansfield (1898-1979), British singer and comedian, born in Rochdale, England. She sang in public as a child and made her professional debut in pantomime in 1914. She appeared frequently in the United States after 1930, especially during World War II, when she played benefit performances for British war relief organizations. She was seen in several films, both British and American. Her recordings of songs and sketches, mostly comic or sentimental dialect pieces about her native Lancashire, were also popular. In 1978 she was created a Dame of the British Empire. Her autobiography, Sing as We Go, was published in 1960.