Gracie Fields - Sally (medley 1932)

Born over a fish and chip shop owned by her grandmother in Molesworth Street, Rochdale, Lancashire, she made her first stage appearance as a child in 1905. Her two sisters, Edith and Betty, and brother, Tommy, all went on to appear on stage, but Gracie was the most successful. Her professional debut in variety took place at the Rochdale Hippodrome theatre in 1910 and she soon gave up her job in the local cotton mill.

She met comedian Archie Pitt and they began working together. Pitt would come to serve as her manager and the two married in 1923. The two continued to tour Britain together until 1922 in the revue Mr Tower of London and Gracie came to major public notice when Mr Tower of London came to the West End. Her career rapidly accelerated from this point with straight dramatic performances and the beginning of a recording career.

The late 1930s saw her popularity peak and she was given many honours: the Order of Officer Sister of St. John of Jerusalem (for charity work), the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) (for services to entertainment) in 1938, and the Freedom of the Borough of Rochdale.

World War II was declared whilst she was recovering and Fields travelled to France to entertain the troops. In 1940, she married film director Monty Banks. She was forced to leave Britain for North America during the war. Although she continued to spend much of her time entertaining troops. Nevertheless, she performed many times for Allied troops, travelling as far as the islands of New Guinea, where she received an enthusiastic response from Australian personnel.

After the war, Fields continued her career on a less active basis. She began performing in Britain again in 1948 and starred at the 1951 Festival of Britain celebrations. She proved popular once more, though never regaining the status she enjoyed in the 1930s. She continued recording, but made no more films, moving more towards light classical music as popular tastes changed.

Her final appearance was at the Royal Variety Show at the age of 80, when she sang "Sally" in the finale. In February 1979, she was created a Dame Commander of the British Empire seven months before her death at her home on Capri, aged 81. She is buried in the non-Catholic cemetery on Capri.

Gracie Fields - Sally (medley 1932)