Research Catalog

Oral history interview with Abbey Lincoln.

Title
Oral history interview with Abbey Lincoln.
Publication
New York : Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 1996.

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Moving imageUse in library Sc Visual VRA-178Schomburg Center - Moving Image & Recorded Sound
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Moving imageUse in library Sc Visual DVD-1062Schomburg Center - Moving Image & Recorded Sound

Details

Additional Authors
  • Lincoln, Abbey
  • Murray, James Briggs
  • Narita, Cobi
  • Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
Description
1 videodisc (58 min.) : sound, color; 4 3/4 in.
Summary
The oral history interview with Abbey Lincoln briefly documents her childhood in Chicago. Born Anna Marie Wooldridge, she began experimenting with piano at age 5 and performing in the school and church choir at 6. At 14 heard Billie Holiday and Coleman Hawkins. 8 years later went to Honolulu and met Louis Armstrong, Holiday, Cozy Cole, Gene Krupa and Anita O'Day; decided then to become a singer. From Hawaii went to LA and San Francisco (1955). Met Billy Eckstine who, providing she change her name to Gaby, offered her a chance to work the Moulin Rouge. Lincoln's career took off when, in 1956, Bob Russell arranged her first recording (Benny Carter/Liberty) and, in 1957, when she began writing her own lyrics and recording with Max Roach. Moved to NYC and made first film (The girl can't help it/1956). Following Odetta's example, stopped straightening her hair and, influenced by Holiday (particularly the songs Strange fruit/1939 and God bless the child/1941), Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Langston Hughes, became socially and politically conscious. This was reflected in her lyrics and style (most notably Freedom now, a suite composed with Roach extolling the power of being female and African). She formed the Cultural Association for Women of African Heritage and demonstrated at the UN. In 1962 she married Roach and through him met Duke Ellington, Dizzie Gillespie, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, and Thelonious Monk. Lincoln and Roach toured Europe and Japan. Filmed Nothing but a man (1964) and For love of Ivy (1968). Divorced Roach in 1970. Talks about marriage, monogamy, polygamy. Moved back to LA, continued a film/singing career, but focused on painting and teaching. In 1975 went to Africa and assumed a new name: Aminata Moseka; discusses its symbolism and the fact that the forename/surname were bestowed by the president of Guinea and the minister of information in Zaire respectively. Lincoln sees regression and decay in the music industry today and, because of its ethnocentric curricula, is distrustful of higher education. She continues to perform and lecture on campuses throughout the US. In 1977 planned a failed tour of Europe; talks about lack of funding for jazz. In 1981 came to NYC, performed with Roach at Lincoln Center and, in 1984, recorded I got thunder; 2 other recordings followed: Talking to the sun and Abbey sings Billy. She met Cobi Narita at an artist colony, Universal Jazz Coalition. Continued to collaborate with notable musicians: J.J. Johnson, Stan Getz, Charlie Haden and Randy Weston. She concludes the interview by talking about Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday (the "queens" of her career in jazz).
Subjects
Genre/Form
  • Nonfiction films.
  • Oral histories.
  • Interviews.
Note
  • The Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project was funded by the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Inc.
Credits (note)
  • Interviewers, Cobi Narita and James Briggs Murray.
Terms of Use (note)
  • Permission required to cite, quote and reproduce; contact repository for information.
Biography (note)
  • Abbey Lincoln is a singer, lyricist, composer, actress, writer, teacher and painter. Born Anna Marie on August 6, 1930 in Chicago, Ill., the 10th child and 5th girl of Evelyn and Alexander Wooldridge, she became Gaby, Gaby Lee and Aminata Moseka. Currently Lincoln, who no longer considers herself part of commercial film and music industry, is working on her autobiography. Her major art collection resides in NYC.
Linking Entry (note)
  • Forms part of: Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.
Call Number
Sc Visual DVD-1062
OCLC
1123174114
Title
Oral history interview with Abbey Lincoln.
Production
New York : Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 1996.
Type of Content
two-dimensional moving image
Type of Medium
video
Type of Carrier
videodisc
Digital File Characteristics
video file DVD
Credits
Interviewers, Cobi Narita and James Briggs Murray.
Event
Recorded September 18, 1996, at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
Terms Of Use
Permission required to cite, quote and reproduce; contact repository for information.
Biography
Abbey Lincoln is a singer, lyricist, composer, actress, writer, teacher and painter. Born Anna Marie on August 6, 1930 in Chicago, Ill., the 10th child and 5th girl of Evelyn and Alexander Wooldridge, she became Gaby, Gaby Lee and Aminata Moseka. Currently Lincoln, who no longer considers herself part of commercial film and music industry, is working on her autobiography. Her major art collection resides in NYC.
Linking Entry
Forms part of: Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.
Connect to:
Request Access to Schomburg Moving Images and Recorded Sound
Added Author
Lincoln, Abbey, interviewee.
Murray, James Briggs, interviewer.
Narita, Cobi, interviewer.
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
Research Call Number
Sc Visual DVD-1062
Sc Visual VRA-178 VHS
Sc Visual VRC-1 MII videocassette
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