Gregory Abbott facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gregory Abbott
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gregory Joel Abbott |
| Born | April 2, 1954 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Labels |
|
Gregory Joel Abbott, born on April 2, 1954, is an American singer, musician, and producer. He is famous for his hit songs from the 1980s, especially his platinum-selling song "Shake You Down" from his first album in 1986. He still makes music today!
Contents
Meet Gregory Abbott: Singer and Musician
Gregory's Early Life and Education
Gregory Abbott was born in Harlem, New York City. His parents came from Venezuela and Antigua. When he was young, his mother taught him to play the piano and helped him develop his singing voice.
Before becoming a musician, Gregory studied psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. He also studied creative writing at Stanford University, where he won a special writing award called a Wallace Stegner fellowship. He even taught English as a professor at the University of California, Berkeley.
Gregory Abbott's Music Journey
One of Gregory's first chances in music was working on an album for an independent record label. This led to him singing a duet with the famous singer Whitney Houston. He also produced music for a group called EQ.
In 1986, Gregory Abbott released his first solo album, Shake You Down. The main song from the album, "Shake You Down", was a huge success! It sold over a million copies, earning a "platinum" award, and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album's second song, "I Got the Feelin' (It's Over)", also did well, reaching number 5 on the R&B music chart. Because of these popular songs, his album also went platinum and won him several awards.
Gregory Abbott also found success around the world. He won first prize at the Tokyo Music Festival. The main song from his second album, I'll Prove It to You (released in 1988), was even used in a Japanese movie. He performed with Princess Stephanie of Monaco in Belgium.
Over the years, Gregory has released much of his new music through his own company, Mojo Man Entertainment. He has kept his R&B sound but added a Caribbean feel to his 1996 album, One World!. In 2011, he released an album called Drop Your Mask. Gregory continues to release new songs, including a smooth jazz song called "Chill" which features saxophonist Gerald Albright.
Gregory's Family Life
Gregory Abbott was married to American singer Freda Payne from 1976 to 1979. They have a son named Gregory Joel Abbott, Jr., who was born in 1977.
Gregory Abbott's Music Releases
Gregory Abbott has released several studio albums and singles throughout his career. His most famous album, Shake You Down, was released in 1986. His hit singles include "Shake You Down" and "I Got the Feelin' (It's Over)". He has also released compilation albums like Super Hits and Rhyme and Reason.
