She recorded as early as 1938, and recorded in the 1940s with Artie Shaw. However, the peak of her recording career came in the early 1950s. Her most successful record was "Kiss of Fire", which reached #1 on the pop music charts in 1952, although she is probably best known today for her cover versions of Etta James' "The Wallflower" (recorded by Gibbs with modified lyrics under the title "Dance with Me, Henry") and of LaVern Baker's "Tweedle Dee," and for her novelty number "The Hula Hoop Song," which was her last hit, in 1958.
She acquired the nickname "Her Nibs, Miss Georgia Gibbs" from Garry Moore when she appeared as a regular on his and Jimmy Durante's radio show.