Francine Griffin

b. Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Griffin began performing publicly while still a child, appearing in amateur talent contests. She followed this with a spell as a dancer at Cincinnati's Cotton Club. When she was 17 she briefly took singing lessons and began on-the-job learning by performing with local and visiting musicians. Soon, she was hired to tour with a package that included Big Maybelle, Little Jimmy Scott and Brother Jack McDuff. Although urged to go to New York, marriage and the raising of children intervened and she stayed mostly in her home town but continued to sing whene...