Della Griffin facts for kids

Della Griffin (born June 12, 1922 – died August 9, 2022) was an amazing American jazz singer and drummer. She was also known as Della Simpson. Della was part of two of the very first all-girl R&B music groups in the 1950s: The Enchanters and The Dell-Tones.

Biography

Early Life and Music Journey

Della Griffin was born in Newberry, South Carolina, on June 12, 1922. She was one of twenty children! Later, she moved to New York City and grew up there.

Della loved music from a young age. She really looked up to famous musicians like Count Basie, Charlie Barnet, and especially Billie Holiday. Della started singing when she was just 12 years old. Singing was her biggest passion, but she was also great at playing the drums, alto saxophone, and piano.

After finishing Jamaica High School in Queens, New York, in 1943, Della began singing professionally.

Forming Music Groups

In 1950, Della and her friend Frances Kelley decided to start a singing group. They knew each other from working together in a factory. They soon added Pearl Brice, Della's childhood friend, and Rachel Gist, a singer from Harlem. Their friend Chris Townes helped them a lot. He became their teacher, helped arrange their songs, played piano, and wrote music for them.

The group performed in small clubs for about a year. In 1951, Della invited Jerry Blaine, who owned Jubilee Records, to hear them. He was so impressed that he signed them the very next day! Their first songs included "Today is Your Birthday" and "How Could You Break My Heart." In January 1952, Jubilee released The Enchanters' first record. The group started touring the country and became very popular. Later that year, Rachel Gist and Pearl Brice left the group.

The Dell-Tones and New Adventures

Della and Frances Kelley wanted to keep making music. They found two new members, Gloria Alleyne and Sherry Gary. With these new singers, the group changed its name to The Dell-Tones. They named it after Della Griffin because she was the lead singer and also the group's drummer. Della Griffin was actually the first female drummer in a well-known music group!

Della's first husband, Jimmy Simpson, managed the group. He helped them get a recording deal with Coral's Brunswick company. In 1953, they recorded "Yours Alone" and "My Hearts on Fire." When these songs didn't get much attention, The Dell-Tones moved to Rainbow records. There, they recorded "I'm Not in Love With You" and "Little Short Daddy."

The group then went on the "Night Train Tour" with Jimmy Forrest. After this, Frances Kelley, Gloria Alleyne, and Sherry Gary left. New members Algie Willie, Shirley Bunnie Foy, and Renee Stewart joined. The Dell-Tones then signed with Baton records and recorded songs like "Don't Be Long" and "Baby Say You Love Me."

In 1955, The Dell-Tones went on a tour of Canada. Later, Gloria Bell and Chris Townes left the group. The Dell-Tones then joined forces with Sonny Til and his group The Orioles. This new, bigger group included Della Griffin, Sonny Til, Della's second husband Paul Griffin, and many other talented musicians. They performed in clubs in New York City and recorded "Voices of Love" and "I'm so Lonely" in 1957. After this, The Dell-Tones slowly stopped performing together, and Della began her solo career.

Later Life and Legacy

Della Griffin was married three times. Her husbands were Jimmy Simpson, Paul Griffin (a pianist), and Gene Walker (a saxophone player). Over the years, she toured and performed with many famous artists like Jimmy Forrest, Sonny Stitt, Benny Green, Illinois Jacquet, and her sister-in-law, Etta Jones.

After The Dell-Tones, Della's husband at the time, Paul Griffin, encouraged her to take a break to focus on their family. After their marriage ended, Della started performing again in New York City clubs. She often sang at places like The Blue Note and The Blue Book for many years.

In 1984, Della had to take another break from music after an accident. But after she recovered, she returned to her passion for performing. She was mostly featured as a singer, which helped her gain more attention. When she was 65, she made her first album with tenor saxophonist Houston Person. She also performed overseas, including at the Alandia Jazz Festival in Finland in 1998.

Della Griffin never had her own children, but she was a foster parent to more than a dozen foster kids. She became a close friend to Billie Holiday. After Billie's death, Billie's husband would visit Della every week to hear her sing because her voice reminded him of Billie.

In 2005, Della Griffin and The Enchanters performed as the main act at a show organized by the UGHA (United Group Harmony Association). The audience loved her performance.

Della Griffin lived in New Rochelle, New York, where her foster children would visit her every day. She passed away in New York City on August 9, 2022, at the age of 100.

Discography

• Sings (Dobre, 1978)
• I'll Get By (Muse, 1990)
• Travelin' Light (Muse, 1992)
• The Very Thought of You (Savant, 1998)

With Etta Jones

• Sugar (Muse, 1989)

With Houston Person

• Christmas with Houston Person and Friends (Muse, 1994)