Gregory Abbott Biography
2 April 1954, Harlem, New York City, New York, USA. This R&B singer-songwriter began pursuing a musical career while working for his doctorate at the University of California at Berkeley. He soon moved to Los Angeles and married famed songstress Freda Payne, who recorded four of his songs. He returned to his home in New York and began working as a researcher in a stockbroking firm. Associates at the firm took an interest in Abbott's musical career and financed a studio and label, Gramercy Park Records. Abbott recorded a few acts for the label before trying to record himself. In 1986, he signed with Columbia Records, and enjoyed a huge hit with "Shake You Down" (number 1 R&B, number 1 pop), which became the fastest song in US music history to reach one million airplays. In the UK, the song went to number 6 on the singles chart. Abbott continued his success in the R&B field with "I Got The Feelin' (It's Over)" (number 5 R&B) in 1987, and "I'll Prove It To You" (number 5 R&B) in 1988. He has since balanced songwriting interests with his solo career, and while never enjoying the heady commercial success of his debut he continues to produce pleasant collections of easy-listening R&B.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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