Abbey Lincoln facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Abbey Lincoln
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Lincoln in concert, 1966
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Anna Marie Wooldridge |
| Born | August 6, 1930 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | August 14, 2010 (aged 80) New York, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, actress, civil rights activist |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1956–2007 |
| Labels | Riverside, Verve, Marge |
Anna Marie Wooldridge (born August 6, 1930 – died August 14, 2010), known professionally as Abbey Lincoln, was an American jazz singer, songwriter, and actress. She was also an important civil rights activist starting in the 1960s. Abbey Lincoln was known for her powerful and emotional performances. She sang both classic songs and her own original music.
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Abbey Lincoln: A Jazz Star
Abbey Lincoln was born in Chicago but grew up in Calvin Center, Michigan. She was one of many singers who were inspired by the famous jazz singer Billie Holiday. Her first album was called Abbey Lincoln's Affair – A Story of a Girl in Love. After this, she released several more albums with Riverside Records.
Music and Civil Rights
In 1960, Abbey Lincoln sang on a very important album called We Insist! This album was created by Max Roach and focused on the civil rights movement. Many of Lincoln's songs and lyrics were connected to the fight for equal rights in America. After traveling to Africa in the mid-1970s, she chose a new name, Aminata Moseka.
During the 1980s, Abbey Lincoln released fewer albums. However, her song "For All We Know" was featured in the 1989 movie Drugstore Cowboy. In the 1990s and until her death, she signed a contract with Verve Records and released ten more albums.
These albums are highly praised and are seen as a major highlight in her career. Her 1992 album, Devil's Got Your Tongue, featured many talented musicians and singers, including The Staple Singers. In 2003, Abbey Lincoln received a special award called the Jazz Master Award from the National Endowment for the Arts. This award recognized her amazing contributions to jazz music.
Abbey Lincoln's songs often shared the ideas of the civil rights movement. Her music helped inspire people to support the cause. Besides singing, she also became an actress. She appeared in movies like The Girl Can't Help It, Nothing But a Man, and For Love of Ivy. Later in her career, her songs explored deeper, more thoughtful ideas. She continued to perform professionally even when she was in her seventies. She often visited the famous Blue Note jazz club in New York City.
Abbey Lincoln: On Screen
In 1956, Abbey Lincoln appeared in the movie The Girl Can't Help It. For this film, she wore a dress that had been worn by Marilyn Monroe in an earlier movie. She also sang the movie's theme song.
She starred with Ivan Dixon in the 1964 independent film Nothing But a Man. In 1968, she acted alongside Sidney Poitier and Beau Bridges in For Love of Ivy. For her role in this movie, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1969.
Abbey Lincoln also appeared on television. Her TV roles began in 1968 with The Name of the Game. She was in an episode of "On Being Black" for WGBH-TV Boston in 1969. She also appeared in popular shows like Mission: Impossible (1971), Marcus Welby, M.D. (1974), and All in the Family (1978).
In the 1990 movie Mo' Better Blues, directed by Spike Lee, Abbey Lincoln played the role of Lillian, the mother of the main character, Bleek.
Personal Life
Abbey Lincoln was married to drummer Max Roach from 1962 to 1970. Max Roach's daughter, Maxine, from an earlier marriage, appeared on some of Abbey Lincoln's albums.
Abbey Lincoln passed away on August 14, 2010, in Manhattan, New York. This was just eight days after her 80th birthday. Her brother, David Wooldridge, shared the news. He said she had been in a nursing home in Manhattan and her health had been getting worse since 2007. She was cremated, and her ashes were scattered.
Discography
Abbey Lincoln released many albums throughout her career. Here are some of her notable works:
Albums as the Main Artist
- Abbey Lincoln's Affair...A Story of a Girl in Love (1957)
- That's Him! (1957)
- It's Magic (1958)
- Abbey Is Blue (1959)
- Straight Ahead (1961)
- People in Me (1973)
- Golden Lady (1981)
- Talking to the Sun (1984)
- The World Is Falling Down (1990)
- You Gotta Pay the Band (with Stan Getz, 1991)
- Devil's Got Your Tongue (1992)
- A Turtle's Dream (1995)
- Wholly Earth (1998)
- Over the Years (2000)
- It's Me (2003)
- Abbey Sings Abbey (2007)
Albums as a Guest Artist
Abbey Lincoln also appeared on albums by other artists, including several with her husband, Max Roach:
- With Max Roach: We Insist! (1960), Percussion Bitter Sweet (1961)
- With Eric Dolphy: Newport Rebels (1961)
- With Frank Morgan: A Lovesome Thing (1991)
See also
In Spanish: Abbey Lincoln para niños
