Gregory Abbott facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gregory Abbott
Abbott in 2016
Background information
Birth name	Gregory Joel Abbott
Born	(1954-04-02) April 2, 1954 (age 71) New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul adult contemporary
Occupation(s)	Singer musician composer record producer
Instruments	Vocals keyboard piano drums
Years active	1982–present
Labels	Columbia Legacy Mojo Man Entertainment

Gregory Joel Abbott (born April 2, 1954) is an American singer, musician, composer, and record producer. He is most famous for his hit songs in the mid-1980s. His biggest hit was "Shake You Down" from his first album in 1986. This song was so popular it went platinum, which means it sold over a million copies.

Life and Career

Early Life and Education

Gregory Abbott was born in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. His parents came from Venezuela and Antigua, which gave him a diverse cultural background. When he was young, his mother taught him how to play the piano and encouraged his singing.

Before he became a professional musician, Abbott was a dedicated student. He studied psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. He also studied creative writing at Stanford University, where he was so talented that he won a special award called the Wallace Stegner fellowship. After his studies, he even worked as an English professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

Rise to Musical Fame

Abbott's music career began to take off when he got the chance to record a duet with the famous singer Whitney Houston. He later worked as a producer for a group called EQ.

In 1986, Abbott released his first album, Shake You Down. The main song, also called "Shake You Down", became a massive hit. It reached the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100, a list of the most popular songs in the United States. Another song from the album, "I Got the Feelin' (It's Over)," was also very popular on the R&B music charts. Because of these hit songs, the album sold over a million copies and earned Abbott many awards.

International Success and Later Work

Abbott also became popular in other countries. He won first prize at the Tokyo Music Festival in Japan. In 1988, he released his second album, I'll Prove It to You. The title song was used in a Japanese movie. He also performed in Belgium with Princess Stephanie of Monaco.

Through the years, Abbott has continued to make music, often releasing it on his own record label. While he is known for his smooth R&B style, he has also explored other sounds. For example, his 1996 album One World! included music with a Caribbean feel. He continues to release new music, including smooth jazz songs.

Personal Life

Gregory Abbott was married to American singer Freda Payne from 1976 to 1979. They have a son, Gregory Joel Abbott, Jr., who was born in 1977.

Discography

Studio Albums

Singles

Compilation Albums

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