Dee, Gracie - The Many Moods Of Gracie Dee

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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

Gracie Dee was a Canadian country singer and musician originally from Canora, Saskatchewan. She began her career in the 1960s, performing both as a solo artist and in collaboration with her husband, Saskatchewan-born fiddler and producer Mike Harris.

In the mid-1960s, Gracie teamed up with 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 early 1970s, Gracie had signed to Sims Records in Nashville, marking an important step in her solo career. Her debut solo LP, In A Country Mood, was released in Canada on Rada Records and in the United States through Harris’s Blaze Records. Issued in 1972, the record was highlighted in RPM magazine as “Album of the Week” in December of that year, praised for its blend of traditional country and contemporary production. Built around Dee’s warm, expressive vocals, the album offered a mix of covers and original material, supported by crisp Nashville studio arrangements that gave it the bright, punchy sound reminiscent of Decca/MCA productions of the era.

Her follow-up, The Many Moods of Gracie Dee, was produced by Mike Harris and Ron Manning, and again appeared on both Blaze and Rada. Likely recorded in Nashville, the album featured liner notes by singer Bobby Hardin, suggesting his participation in the sessions. While no exact release date is given, its Canadian catalog number places it after In A Country Mood, making it her second album, probably from 1973 or 1974.

Throughout the mid-1970s, Gracie Dee and Mike Harris remained active on the road. RPM reported in 1974 that the pair were touring extensively across Western Canada, bringing their mix of fiddle-driven instrumentals and country vocals to audiences in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Harris’s reputation as a champion fiddler and Dee’s rising profile as a vocalist made them a well-matched team, both on record and on stage.

Gracie’s discography also includes various singles released on Sims, Blaze, and Rada, some of which were not included on her albums. Together, she and Harris bridged the Canadian and Nashville country music scenes, recording and releasing material in both markets.

Though her recording career appears to have wound down by the late 1970s, Gracie Dee’s work — from the all-instrumental Fiddle Favorites to her solo country LPs — stands as a testament to a Saskatchewan artist who successfully carved a niche in both Canadian and American country music circles.
-Robert Williston

Liner notes:
It is not often that a country singer can gain as much recognition with her first record as Gracie Dee did with hers. It is especially hard when the performer is a girl, and believe me just by looking you can tell!!!! She is a joy to work with and a favorite of Nashville’s session musicians. I asked her for a resume by asking the following questions.

Born? Yes. In Canora, Saskatchewan in Canada.
Eyes? Green.
Hair? It varies between different shades of blond.
Previous occupation? Housewife and mother.
How long have you been in country music? Since water.
Marital Status? Shaky — But happy.
Do you drive? Not according to my husband.

To sum it all up in a nutshell, Gracie Dee is a green eyed bubbling bundle of talent, a happily married varying haired blond housewife and mother looking for new fans everywhere she goes.
-Bobby Hardin

Produced by Mike Harris and Ron Manning
Manufactured by Rada Record Pressings Limited Burnaby, B.C., Canada

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