Lincoln, Abbey (1930–)

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Lincoln, Abbey (1930–)

American jazz singer and actress. Name variations: Gaby Lee, Aminata Moseka. Born Anna Marie Wooldridge, Aug 6, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, 10th of 12 children; m. Max Roach (jazz drummer), 1962 (div. 1970).

Legendary jazz singer and song-writer with improvisational style, began working in nightclubs under various pseudonyms at young age; at 20, traveled to California with brother Alex and began singing as Gaby Lee at Moulin Rouge; toured with Rampart Streeters; made 1st records with Benny Carter, including Abbey Lincoln's Affair: A Story of A Girl in Love (1955); wrote much of own material, stressing racial politics and black history; collaborated with Roach on Freedom Now Suite (1960) and Straight Ahead (1961); appeared in such films as Nothing But a Man (1964), For Love of Ivy (1968) and Mo' Better Blues (1990); began recording for Inner City (1973), gradually achieving prominance as jazz singer; adopted name Aminata Moseka (mid-70s) after trip to Africa; returned to love songs (1980s) and produced Tribute to Billie Holiday (1987); enjoyed renewed popularity with Verve releases (1990s); albums include Abbey Is Blue (1959), Sounds as a Roach (1968), People in Me (1973), Golden Lady (1980), Talking to the Sun (1983), World Is Falling Down (1990), You Gotta Pay the Band (with Stan Getz, 1991), A Turtle's Dream (1995), You & I (1997), Over the Years (2000) and It's Me (2003).

See also (documentary) Abbey Lincoln: You Gotta pay the Band (1993).

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Lincoln, Abbey (1930–)

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