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Before she was even two years old, Dinah faced a devastating obstacle when doctors diagnosed her with polio. The disease left her immobile, confining her to bed rest. However, her mother took matters into her own hands, forgoing the doctors' predictions to rehabilitate her daughter through rigorous exercise and massage. Though Dinah would carry a lifelong limp, she defied the odds by recovering almost entirely.
Growing up in a predominantly white Tennessee neighborhood as a Jewish girl, Dinah often felt out of place. Yet, amidst the turmoil of her childhood, she discovered her passion for singing. Her father supported her budding talent, allowing her to perform for customers at the family store, igniting the flame that would lead to her future accomplishments.