Maxine enjoyed great success as a vocalist in the swing era and then later as a pre-rock pop singer. Her first hit was in 1937 with the song Loch Lomond. In 1940 Maxine co-hosted a nation-wide radio program called Flow Gently Sweet Rhythm. At the time it was the only coast-to-coast radio show that featured African-American performers as the MCs. After some acting, Maxine became a nurse in 1953. Five years later she returned to music, singing and playing flugelhorn and trombone.