Dee, Gracie

Websites:  No
Origin: Canora, Saskatchewan, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Born in Canora, Saskatchewan, Canadian country singer Gracie Dee built her career on a warm, expressive voice, a vivacious stage presence, and a tireless dedication to her craft. She emerged in the mid-1960s, performing alongside her husband, Saskatchewan-born fiddler and bandleader Mike Harris. The pair were active both in Canada and the United States, working in live performance, studio recording, and television.

In the mid-1960s, Gracie teamed up with Mike Harris in The Charm-Ettes, a group that recorded the 1966 LP Fiddle Favorites for Rev Records (LP-1005). The album was all instrumental, built around Harris’s lively fiddle playing and the group’s tight ensemble arrangements. Another member looked so much like Gracie that it could have been her twin.

By the late ’60s, the couple had relocated for a time to the United States, working the circuit in Nashville and beyond. RPM reported on her early Nashville appearances and described her as one of Canada’s most promising country acts abroad. Harris established Blaze Records in Nashville, while Gracie gained further exposure through guest appearances, live shows, and ongoing U.S. recording work.

Gracie’s big break came when she caught the attention of Sims Records founder Russell Sims, reportedly through an introduction by Hal Willis. This led to her signing with Sims and greater access to Nashville’s studio scene. Known for her “green-eyed, bubbling bundle of talent” persona, she quickly became a favourite with session players.

Her first solo LP, In A Country Mood, was issued on Rada Records in Burnaby, British Columbia, around late 1972 (though recording may have occurred earlier). The album showcased a mix of Nashville-written material and covers, delivered in a bright, twangy production style reminiscent of Decca/MCA’s early ’70s sound. Billboard’s country reviewers named it “Album of the Week” in December 1972, and RPM carried notices of Canadian airplay.

This was followed by The Many Moods of Gracie Dee (Blaze Records/Rada Records), produced by Mike Harris and Ron Manning and likely recorded in Nashville in 1973 or 1974. The album again avoided listing musician credits but included liner notes by singer Bobby Hardin, further suggesting Nashville session involvement. Both LPs were released in Canada and the US, with Blaze handling American distribution.

In mid-1970, Gracie embarked on her third tour of the Orient and Far East, opening at the Hong Kong Hilton in July before continuing through Asia. The tour was booked through Mike Harris Associates, whose international roster also included engagements in the Orient and Vietnam. RPM highlighted her ongoing U.S. presence at this time and noted that she had recently signed a recording contract with songwriter and producer Ray Griff, with a single release expected shortly.

Her overseas work also included performances in Greenland, Puerto Rico, New York City, Nevada, and at the WWVA Jamboree. RPM continued to report on her singles through the mid-1970s, with Blaze Records releases gaining Western Canadian radio support and chart play. Harris was frequently mentioned not only as her producer but also as the driving force behind her bookings and business affairs.

Gracie Dee’s career extended into the mid-1970s, with later singles appearing on Blaze Records. Known for her easy rapport with audiences, she performed extensively across Western Canada and the American South, often alongside her husband. Her music combined honky-tonk energy with heartfelt ballads, reflecting both her prairie roots and the Nashville polish she embraced during her time in the US.

Though her recording output was relatively limited, Gracie Dee remains a notable figure in the history of Canadian country music — a performer who bridged local prairie stages and international country circuits, and whose records stand as artifacts of an era when Canadian artists were carving out a place in Nashville’s competitive scene.
-Robert Williston