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Gregory Abbott
Background information
Birth name	Gregory Joel Abbott
Born	(1954-04-02) April 2, 1954 (age 70) New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul adult contemporary
Occupations	Singer musician composer record producer
Instruments	Vocals keyboard piano drums
Years active	1982–present
Labels	Columbia Legacy Mojo Man Entertainment
Website	gregoryabbott.com

Gregory Joel Abbott (born April 2, 1954) is an American singer, musician, composer and producer. Although he continues to record to date, he is best known for his singles in the mid-1980s including his platinum single, "Shake You Down", from his 1986 debut album.

Biography

Early life

Abbott was born in Harlem, New York. Abbott's parents were from Venezuela and Antigua. During his early years, Abbott's mother taught him how to play piano and encouraged him to develop vocally. Before his career as a musician, Abbott studied psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and creative writing at Stanford; where he won a Wallace Stegner fellowship. Before becoming a musician, Abbott taught as a professor of English at the University of California, Berkeley.

Music career

One of Abbott's first opportunities in his studio was an album for an independent record label, which gave him the opportunity to do a duet with Whitney Houston. Continuing on, Abbott produced for the group EQ on Atlantic Records. In 1986, Abbott released his first solo album, Shake You Down. The title track for the album was a success, going platinum and topping the Billboard Hot 100. The album's second single, "I Got the Feelin' (It's Over)", reached Number 5 on the R&B chart. On the strength of its singles, the album reached platinum status and earned Abbott several awards.

Internationally, Abbott has also had success, winning first prize at the Tokyo Music Festival. The title track of his second album, I'll Prove It to You, which was released in 1988, was featured on a Japanese movie soundtrack. In Belgium, he performed with Princess Stephanie of Monaco. Over the years much of his new music has been released via his own Mojo Man Entertainment label. Abbott has continued with his R&B sound, but he added a Caribbean influence to his 1996 album One World! In 2011, an album entitled Drop Your Mask was released. Abbott continues to release singles including a smooth jazz song "Chill" featuring saxophonist Gerald Albright.

Personal life

Abbott was married to American singer Freda Payne from 1976 until 1979. Their son, Gregory Joel Abbott, Jr., was born in 1977.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Compilation albums

• Super Hits (Legacy Recordings, 1998)
• Rhyme and Reason (Sony Music, 2006)

References

1. ^ "Biography". Gregoryabbott.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
2. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (2003). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 8/9. ISBN 1-85227-969-9.
3. ^ Belanger, Larry. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
4. ^ "Mr. & Mrs. Freda Payne Sues For Divorce; Asks $1 A Month Alimony". Jet. Vol. 55, no. 22. Johnson Publishing Company. February 15, 1979. p. 52. ISSN 0021-5996.
5. "Gregory Abbott, A Singing Force". Canyon News. April 18, 2015. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
6. ^ "Gregory Abbott - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
7. ^ "GREGORY ABBOTT - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
8. "Chart History - Gregory Abbott: HOT R&B/HIP-HOP SONGS". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
9. "Chart History - Gregory Abbott: ADULT CONTEMPORARY". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
10. "Chart History - Gregory Abbott: Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 1, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
11. Rice, Jonathan; Roberts, David (2000). Guinness Book of British Hit Singles (13th ed.). London, UK: Guinness World Records Ltd. p. 69. ISBN 0-85112-111-X.

External links

• Gregory Abbott discography at Discogs
• Official website
• Mojo Man Entertainment
• Smooth Jazz Artist Guide

• 1954 births
• Living people
• 20th-century African-American male singers
• 20th-century American male singers
• 20th-century American singers
• American contemporary R&B singers
• Musicians from Manhattan
• People from Harlem
• American soul singers
• Columbia Records artists
• Singers from New York City
• UC Berkeley College of Letters and Science alumni
• Musicians from Berkeley, California
• Singer-songwriters from California
• Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences alumni
• University of California, Berkeley College of Letters and Science faculty
• 20th-century African-American academics
• 20th-century American academics
• African-American male songwriters
• 21st-century African-American male singers
• 21st-century American male singers
• Singer-songwriters from New York (state)
• 21st-century African-American academics
• 21st-century American academics