Marjorie Torr Stedeford (1909 – 1959) was an Australian singer with a remarkably deep and soft voice, who had a successful career in London in the years immediately before the outbreak of World War II and on her return to Australia.
She had two sisters; Stella "Annie" Maxwell (9 December 1900 – 1972), who was born at Chiltern, Victoria and married John McNeill Fraser on 9 July 1889[1] and Edith May (1903 – 11 August 1944) later Mrs. Jack Lindsay Davis.
In 1935 she sailed for London, ostensibly on holiday but with some help from music critic Stan Patchett (a fellow Australian), her unique 'baritone' voice commanded attention.
She sang with bands led by Jack Johnson and Brian Lawrance, and was favourably reviewed by Melody Maker (where she polled fourth in 1937) and the Daily Mirror.
She left Britain around 1938 for a short holiday in Florida and with the outbreak of World War II returned to Melbourne, arriving in December 1939 and immediately won a contract with the ABC.