Marjorie was born and grew up in Street Kilda, Victoria or Balaclava, Victoria the daughter of John Charles Stedeford (ca1871 – 6 August 1918) and Edith Louisa Stedeford (née Torr) (1876 – 26 June 1950) who were married on 31 January 1900.
She studied music and was active in sports, and was reputedly the first Australian woman water-skier.
Her musical career began in Melbourne around 1920 and by 1932 was singing on the radio with Cecil Fraser"s Melbourne American Broadcasting Company Dance Band. 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 cut a few records for Columbia and appeared on the British Broadcasting Corporation singing The Manitoba I Love and was interviewed by Susan Collyer for the magazine Radio Pictorial.
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.
At various times she had her own backing groups, as "Marjorie Stedeford and her Rhythm Boys" and "Margaret Stedeford and her Mood Makers" (actually the Parker Sisters). She was a regular on the 2GB program "Calling the Stars". and hosted her own shows on 3AR. She acted in several radio plays.
