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Gregory Abbott

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gregory Abbott
Abbott in 2016
Abbott in 2016
Background information
Born
Gregory Joel Abbott

(1954-04-02) April 2, 1954 (age 72)
New York City, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • musician
  • composer
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboard
  • piano
  • drums
Years active1982–present
Labels
Websitegregoryabbott.com

Gregory Joel Abbott (born April 2, 1954)[1][2] 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.

Early life

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Abbott was born in Harlem, New York.[2] 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[3] 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.[4][3]

Career

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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.[3] Continuing on, Abbott produced for the group EQ on Atlantic Records.[3] 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.[2] 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.[3]

Internationally, Abbott has also had success, winning first prize at the Tokyo Music Festival.[3] 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.[3] In Belgium, he performed with Princess Stephanie of Monaco.[3] 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![3] The same influence followed his R&B/jazz-oriented independent album Eyes, Whispers, Rhythm, Sex... in 2002.[5] Abbott's most recent album entitled Drop Your Mask was released in 2011. Abbott continues to release singles including a smooth jazz song "Chill" featuring saxophonist Gerald Albright.[1]

Personal life

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Abbott was married to American singer Freda Payne[6] from 1976 until 1979. Their son, Gregory Joel Abbott, Jr., was born in 1977.[4] Abbott has another son from a previous marriage.[4]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Album Label Peak chart positions
US
[7]		 US R&B
[7]		 UK
[8]
1986 Shake You Down Columbia Records 22 5 53
1988 I'll Prove It to You 132 17 —
1996 One World! Musik International — — —
2002 Eyes, Whispers, Rhythm, Sex... — — —
2011 Drop Your Mask Spectra Records — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles

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Year Title Chart positions
US
[9]		 US
R&B
[10]		 US Adult Con.
[11]		 UK
[12][8]
1986 "Shake You Down" 1 1 2 6
"I Got the Feelin' (It's Over)" 56 5 25 76
"You're My Angel" — — — —
1988 "I'll Prove It to You" — 5 35 —
"Let Me Be Your Hero" — 34 — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

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References

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  1. 1 2 "Biography". Gregoryabbott.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Colin Larkin, ed. (2003). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 8/9. ISBN 1-85227-969-9.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Belanger, Larry. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "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. ↑ Mitchell, Gail (November 16, 2002). "Rhythm, Rap, and the Blues". Billboard Magazine: 52. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Gregory Abbott, A Singing Force". Canyon News. April 18, 2015. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  7. 1 2 "Gregory Abbott - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  8. 1 2 "GREGORY ABBOTT - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Chart History - Gregory Abbott: Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 1, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Chart History - Gregory Abbott: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Chart History - Gregory Abbott: Adult Contemporary". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  12. ↑ 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.
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