liston was born in kansas city, missouri. at the age of seven, melba's mother purchased her a trombone. her family encouraged her musical pursuits, as they were all music lovers. liston was primarily self-taught, but she was "encouraged by her guitar-playing grandfather" who she spent significant time with learning to play spirituals and folk songs. at the age of eight, she was good enough to be a solo act on a local radio station. at the age of ten, she moved to los angeles, california. she was classmates with dexter gordon, and friends with eric dolphy. after playing in youth bands and studying with alma hightower, she joined the big band led by gerald wilson in 1944.