Biography
Born Anna Marie Wooldridge, 6 August 1930, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Lincoln began singing publicly in the early 50s, working in Chicago nightclubs and using a variety of pseudonyms, including Anna Marie and Gaby Lee, as well as her real name. By the middle of the decade she was using the name by which she has since been largely known. She appeared successfully at the Moulin Rouge in Los Angeles and also made her first records, with Benny Carter, but was soon associating with bop musicians including Thelonious Monk, Mal Waldron and Max Roach. Her style changed during these years and following her marriage to Roach in 1962 she also became more politically aware. She wrote some of her own material, much of it stressing the rising tide of black consciousness in the USA. She collaborated with Roach on some important works, including We Insist!, Freedom Now Suite and Straight Ahead. In the 60s Lincoln had a simultaneous career as an actress, co-starring in the films Nothing But A Man (1964) and For Love Of Ivy (1968), for both of which she received excellent notices.
Following a tour of Africa in the mid-70s, she adopted the name Aminata Moseka (her marriage to Roach had ended in 1970) and some subsequent albums were released under this name. With a deeply emotional singing voice, she has always made a close connection with her audiences. Her style veers between powerful versions of ballads from her early years and the sometimes bitter polemic of her middle period. By the late 80s her repertoire was once again featuring love songs and more accessible material akin to that of her youth, and her work for Verve Records from the 90s onwards has proved to be an admirable showcase for her suitably mature vocal talents. Nevertheless, it is probable that her politically motivated material will prove to be her most lasting contribution to black American culture.
Discography:
Abbey Lincoln's Affair ... A Story Of A Girl In Love (Liberty 1956)***, That's Him! (Riverside 1957)****, It's Magic (Riverside 1958)****, Abbey Is Blue (Riverside 1959)****, Straight Ahead (Candid 1961)****, People In Me (Inner City 1973)***, Golden Lady (Inner City 1980)**, Talking To The Sun (Enja 1983)***, A Tribute To Billie Holiday (Enja 1987)***, Abbey Sings Billie Vol. 2 (Enja 1987)***, The World Is Falling Down (Verve 1991)***, with Stan Getz You Gotta Pay The Band (Verve 1992)***, Devil's Got Your Tongue (Verve 1992)***, When There Is Love (Verve 1993)***, A Turtle's Dream (Verve 1995)****, Who Used To Dance (Verve 1997)****, Wholly Earth (Verve 1999)****, Over The Years (Verve 2000)***, It's Me (Verve 2003)***.
Filmography:
The Girl Can't Help It (1956).
Music Albums
A Turtle's Dream
Verve
06/06/1995
Who Used To Dance
Verve
04/22/1997
Wholly Earth
Verve
01/26/1999
You And I
Jazzfest
04/22/1997
Over The Years
Verve
10/24/2000
It's Me *
Verve
10/14/2003
Abbey Is Blue
Original Jazz Classics
01/01/1987
Abbey Sings Billie Vol. 1
Enja
05/07/2002
Abbey Sings Billie Vol. 2
Enja
10/15/1992
Affair
Capitol/EMI Records
08/10/1993
Devil's Got Your Tongue
Verve
01/26/1993
It's Magic
Original Jazz Classics
12/18/1990
People In Me
Verve
11/23/1993
Straight Ahead
Candid Records
01/25/2000
Talking To The Sun
Enja
05/02/1993
That's Him!
Original Jazz Classics
03/07/1988
The World Is Falling Down
Verve
10/30/1990
Source: Encyclopedia of Popular Music
