Gregory Abbott
Encyclopedia
Gregory Abbott is an American
soul
musician
(keyboards
and drums
), singer, composer
and producer.
He currently lives in both New York and the San Francisco Bay Area
.
and Antigua
. He is a dual citizen of the U.S.
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 musician, Abbott studied psychology
at University of California, Berkeley
and creative writing
at Stanford; where he won a Wallace Stegner fellowship. Also, he has taught English
at University of California, Berkeley.
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
. Continuing on, Abbott produced for the group EQ on Atlantic Records
.
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
. The album's second single, "I Got The Feelin (It's Over)" which reached #5 on the R&B
chart
. With the strength of its singles
, the album propelled to platinum status and earned Abbott several awards.
Internationally, Abbott carried much success, winning first prize at the Tokyo Music Festival. The title track of his second album, "I'll Prove It To You" which was released in 1988, was featured on a Japan
ese movie
soundtrack
. In Belgium
, he performed with Princess Stephanie
of Monaco
.
Abbott is quite active on the World Wide Web and over the years much of his new music has been released via individual songs (singles)....In 2011, a new album entitled "Drop Your Mask" was released by Gregory Abbott on Spectra Records.
"Back to Stay"•
"Prisoner of Love"•
"I'll Prove It to You"•
"Runaway"•
"Unfinished Business"•
"Crazy Over You"•
"Let Me Be Your Hero"•
"Take Me Back"•
"Two of a Kind"•
"She's an Entertainer"
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
(keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
), singer, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and producer.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
He currently lives in both New York and the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
.
Biography
Abbott's parents came from VenezuelaVenezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
and Antigua
Antigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
. He is a dual citizen of the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Antigua. During his early years, Abbott's mother taught him how to play piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and encouraged him to develop vocally.
Before his career as musician, Abbott studied psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
at University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
and creative writing
Creative writing
Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems...
at Stanford; where he won a Wallace Stegner fellowship. Also, he has taught English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
at University of California, Berkeley.
One of Abbott's first opportunities in his studio was an album for an independent
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, which gave him the opportunity to do a duet
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
with Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
. Continuing on, Abbott produced for the group EQ on Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
.
In 1986, Abbott released his first solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
album, Shake You Down. The title track
Shake You Down
"Shake You Down" is the title track from Gregory Abbott's debut album, released in 1986. As a single, it became Abbott's biggest hit and was certified platinum by the RIAA. Abbott went on the chart with several other songs as well.-Origin:...
for the album was a success, going platinum
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
and topping the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. The album's second single, "I Got The Feelin (It's Over)" which reached #5 on the R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
. With the strength of its singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, the album propelled to platinum status and earned Abbott several awards.
Internationally, Abbott carried much success, winning first prize at the Tokyo Music Festival. The title track of his second album, "I'll Prove It To You" which was released in 1988, was featured on a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
. In Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, he performed with Princess Stephanie
Princess Stéphanie of Monaco
Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, Countess of Polignac is a member of the princely family of Monaco. She is the youngest child of Grace, Princess of Monaco and Rainier III of Monaco, and the sister of Albert II of Monaco and Princess Caroline...
of Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
.
Abbott is quite active on the World Wide Web and over the years much of his new music has been released via individual songs (singles)....In 2011, a new album entitled "Drop Your Mask" was released by Gregory Abbott on Spectra Records.
Albums
- 1986 - Shake You DownShake You Down (album)Shake You Down is the debut album from R&B singer-songwriter Gregory Abbott. It was self-written and produced, being released by Columbia Records in 1986....
(Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
) - 1988 - I'll Prove It To You (Columbia Records)
"Back to Stay"•
"Prisoner of Love"•
"I'll Prove It to You"•
"Runaway"•
"Unfinished Business"•
"Crazy Over You"•
"Let Me Be Your Hero"•
"Take Me Back"•
"Two of a Kind"•
"She's an Entertainer"
- 1996 - One World! (Musik International)
- 1998 - Super Hits (Legacy RecordingsLegacy RecordingsLegacy Recordings is Sony Music Entertainment's catalog division. It was founded in 1990 by CBS Records under the leadership of Jerry Shulman, Richard Bauer, Gary Pacheco and Amy Herot to handle reissues of recordings from the vast catalogues of Columbia Records, Epic Records and associated...
) - 2002 - Eyes, Whispers, Rhythm, Sex... (Musik International)
- 2005 - Dancing the Inner Realm... (Musik International-Mojo Man)
- 2006 - Rhyme and Reason
- 2011 - Anniversary Edition of "Shake You Down" (Friday Music)
- 2011 - "Drop Your Mask" (Spectra Records)
Singles
- 1986 - "Shake You DownShake You Down"Shake You Down" is the title track from Gregory Abbott's debut album, released in 1986. As a single, it became Abbott's biggest hit and was certified platinum by the RIAA. Abbott went on the chart with several other songs as well.-Origin:...
" (U.S.United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
: #1; UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
: #6 - on UK charts for 13 weeks) - 1986 - "I Got The Feelin' (It's Over)" (U.S.: #5 R&B)
- 1988 - "I'll Prove It To You"
- 1988 - "Let Me Be Your Hero"
- 1994 - "Handyman"
- 1994 - "Do The Caribbean"
- 2002 - "Sexual"
- 2003 - "Three Little Birds" Duet with Phoebe SnowPhoebe SnowPhoebe Snow was a fictional character created by Earnest Elmo Calkins to promote the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. The advertising campaign, based on a live model, using impressionistic techniques and a fictional character, was one of the first of its kind.-The advertising...
- 2007 - "Middle of Harlem"
- 2007 - "Shake You Down" (re-recording)
- 2009 - "Baby Mama"
- 2011 - "Soul Food"
- 2011 - "Eyes"
- 2011 - "Miracles"