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Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture > Video Oral History Gallery Video Gallery Cataloging Data: Abbey LincolnLocation Schomburg-MIRS Call # Sc Visual VRA-178 Service copy. Sc Visual VRB-2011 Original of: Sc Visual VRA-178. Author Lincoln, Abbey, interviewee. Title Oral history interview with Abbey Lincoln/Animata Moseka, 18 September 1996 [videorecording] / interviewers, Cobi Narita and James Briggs Murray. Imprint 1996. Description 1 videocassette (58 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in. 005800 Note Title supplied; duration: 58 min. Credits Produced and directed by James Briggs Murray. Note Recorded on September 18, 1996, at Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project. Summary The oral history interview with Abbey Lincoln briefly documents her childhood in Chicago. Born Anna Marie Lincoln, 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 Epstein 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 Note 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 (particulalry 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 Theolonius 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: Animata Moseka; discusses its symolism 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, Universe of Jazz Coalition. Continued to collaborate with notable musicians: J.J. Johnson, Stan Getz, Charlie Hayden and Randy Weston. She concludes the interview by talking about Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday (the "queens" of her career in jazz). Note Reproduction. Originally produced: New York, N.Y. : Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library, 1996. 1 videocassette (MII) ; 1/2 in. VHS. Use terms Permission required to cite, quote and reproduce; contact repository for information. Biography/History 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 Animata 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. Note Forms part of: Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project. In Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project Subject Lincoln, Abbey -- Interviews. Lincoln, Abbey -- Political and social views. Holiday, Billie, 1915-1959 -- Influence. Hawkins, Coleman -- Influence. Armstrong, Louis, 1900-1971 -- Influence. Cole, Cozy -- Influence. Krupa, Gene, 1909-1973 -- Influence. O'Day, Anita -- Influence. Roach, Max, 1924- Lincoln, Abbey -- Performances -- Europe. Lincoln, Abbey -- Performances -- Japan. Odetta, 1930- -- Influence. Holiday, Billie, 1915-1959. Strange fruit. Holiday, Billie, 1915-1959. God bless the child. King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968 -- Influence. X, Malcolm, 1925-1965 -- Influence. Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967 -- Influence. Roach, Max, 1924- We insist! Lincoln, Abbey -- Divorce. Lincoln, Abbey -- Views on marriage. Lincoln, Abbey -- Journeys -- Africa. Lincoln, Abbey -- Name. Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974. Gillespie, Dizzy, 1917- Mingus, Charles, 1922- Rollins, Sonny. Monk, Theolonius. Johnson, J. J. Hayden, Charlie. Weston, Randy. Fitzgerald, Ella. Lincoln, Abbey -- Views on music industry. Lincoln, Abbey -- Views on education. Lincoln, Abbey -- Art collections. Cultural Association for Women of African Heritage. Girl can't help it (Motion picture) For love of Ivy (Motion picture) Nothing but a man (Motion picture) Afro-American women musicians. Jazz musicians -- United States. Afro-American actresses. Afro-American women composers. Afro-American women political activists. Hairdressing of Afro-Americans -- Social aspects. Suites (Jazz ensemble). Afro-American women -- Race identity. Painting -- Private collections -- New York (State) -- New York. Form/genre Interviews. Biographies. Additional name Narita, Cobi, interviewer. Murray, James Briggs, interviewer. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Donor The Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project was funded by the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Inc. |