When her trumpeter brother-in-law gave Della Griffin a Billie Holiday record at the age of 11, it was the seed which eventually grew into a singing career. Griffin immediately reallocated her weekly allowance from paying for movies to buying all of Holiday's records, as well as records by Count Basie, Charlie Barnet, and other swinging big bands of the day. Griffin started singing professionally while still in South Carolina, performing at local clubs and dances.