Gregory Abbott

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 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]

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] In 2011, an album entitled Drop Your Mask was released. Abbott continues to release singles including a smooth jazz song "Chill" featuring saxophonist Gerald Albright.[1]

Abbott was married to American singer Freda Payne[5] from 1976 until 1979. Their son, Gregory Joel Abbott, Jr., was born in 1977.[4]

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