Get to Know Gregory Abbott, the Musician
Platinum recording artist, songwriter, and producer Gregory Abbott’s roots stem from Venezuela (his mother) and the Island of Antigua (his father). Raised in Harlem in New York City, he is a dual citizen of the USA and Antigua.
In college, he majored in psychology and minored in music and dramatic arts. He holds a Master’s degree and is currently working towards his Ph.D. and was awarded a full academic scholarship (Wallace Stegner Fellowship) to Stanford University’s Creative writing Master’s program.
While pursuing graduate studies at the University of California at Berkeley and San Francisco, he helped pay his tuition by starting a band. It was here he developed his own personal musical style.
While teaching at UC Berkeley, he decided to become a professional musician, built a studio, and applied his academic discipline to developing skills as a singer, composer, and producer.
Abbott released the single and album “Shake You Down,” shaking up the music industry with countless honors and awards. His music has gone to number one on charts all over the world. He won first prize at the Tokyo Music Festival, where his performance was broadcast to over two billion people.
Upon release, “Shake You Down” achieved the distinction of reaching one million radio air-plays faster than any song in the history of BMI (now well over four million) and won BMI’s Pop Song of the Year award as the most performed song.
Gregory has also won two ‘Soul Train” music awards for Best Male Singer and Best New Artist. He has been the star of the New York Music Awards, receiving four honors: Best R&B Album, Best Debut Album, Best R&B Vocalist, and the Rising Star Award.
He has walked away with two awards at Dick Clark’s “Black Gold” ceremonies, another honor from the R&B Awards in Las Vegas, an N.Y. Image award, and two awards from the annual CEBA Awards dinner (Communications Excellence Aimed at Black Audiences).
On Billboard’s “50 Sexiest Songs of All Time,” “Shake You Down” ranks #22.
Gregory has had numerous top-five hits performed by both himself (“Got The Feelin It’s Over,” “I’ll Prove It To You”), etc., as well as having produced and written for other artists. Some include Jennifer Warnes, Phoebe Snow, Whitney Houston (duet), Fifty Cent (Tony Yayo), Dorothy Moore (Misty Blue), Gerald Albright, Ronnie Spector, Mexican icon Emmanuel, and Brazilian star Rosana Fiengo.
His production and publishing company Grabbit Music places songs in film and television: “Are We Done Yet (Ice Cube Movies), the Super Bowl/ ESPN… and he releases much of his music on his own Mojo Man Entertainment Label.
Abbott’s music has crossed every barrier imaginable. You hear the Caribbean/Spanish influence in his music, topped off with this incredibly smooth, soulful voice. The term “groove ballad” has been used to describe Gregory’s rhythmic and romantic style. And music writers have affectionately used the term “Wall Street Soul” to describe his sophisticated demeanor and intelligent green eyes.
Gregory Abbott has never believed in looking at music through the prism of “genre.” “I am an explorer,” he explains. And indeed, his music reflects many styles: RnB, Smooth Jazz, Caribbean, and Soul. This variety of expression seems to resonate with his numerous fans throughout the world.
Abbott has served on the Board of Directors of both NARAS (the Grammy’s) and NAPM (Songwriters Hall of Fame). He is an advocate for bringing awareness about sustainability to people around the globe.
He releases music via singles a few times a year. His latest release is scheduled for February 2023.
Testimonials
BDS reports Abbott’s legendary standard “Shake You Down” has over 5+ million plays to date. The official YouTube video has over 94 million and counting!
Discography
Shake You Down / Columbia Records 1986
I’ll Prove It to You / Columbia Sony 1988
One World! / Musik International 1994
Super Hits / Sony Legacy 1998
Eyes, Whispers, Rhythm, Sex... / Orchard Musik International 2002
Dancing The Inner Realm / Music International 2005
Rhyme and Reason / Sony Music 2006
Drop Your Mask / Spectra Records 2011
Shake You Down / Columbia 1986
I Got The Feelin (It’s Over) / Columbia 1986
I’ll Prove It To You / Columbia 1988
Let Me Be Your Hero / Columbia 1988
Without You / MIR Mojo Man Entertainment 2002
Sexual / MIR Mojo Man Entertainment 2002
Handyman / MIR Mojo Man Entertainment 2002
Rhythm Rhyme / Mojo Man Entertainment 2003
One World, One Heart One Mind / MIR Mojo Man Entertainment 2004
Middle of Harlem / Mojo Man Entertainment 2008
Sure Feels Good / Mojo Man Entertainment 2010
Island Woman / Mojo Man Entertainment 2012
Drop Your Mask / Spectra 2012
Things That Mean The Most 2 Me / Mojo Man Entertainment 2012
Sugar Sugar / Mojo Man Entertainment 2012
Miracles / Mojo Man Entertainment 2013
Shake You Down (Remake) / Mojo Man Entertainment 2013
Every Little Step / Mojo Man Entertainment 2014
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas / Mojo Man Entertainment 2014
How Deep Is Your Love / Mojo Man Entertainment 2015
Stir It Up / Mojo Man Entertainment 2015
When Something is Wrong With My Baby / Mojo Man Entertainment 2016
Deja Vu / Mojo Man Entertainment 2017
On and On / Mojo Man Entertainment 2017
Stop, Look Listen (To Your Heart) / Mojo Man Entertainment 2019
My Heart Has Found A Home / Mojo Man Entertainment 2019
Searchin 4 the 1 / Mojo Man Entertainment 2020
Haven’t We Seen Enough / Mojo Man Entertainment 2020
Chill (Featuring Gerald Albright) / Mojo Man Entertainment 2020
Summer In the City / Mojo Man Entertainment 2022
Whisper The Words / Mojo Man Entertainment 2023
Baby You Got What It Takes / Freda Payne Capitol 1977
Bring Back The Joy / Freda Payne / Capitol 1977
I Can’t Live On A Memory / Freda Payne / Virgin Music Group 1978
Livin’ For The Beat / Freda Payne 1979
Unfinished Business / Ronnie Spector / Sony Legacy 1987
Everything Is Love (Tudo e Vida) / Rosana Fiengo CBS Brazil 1988
Leave Your Light On / Animation / Raccoons CBC 1989
Don’t Even Know What Time It Is / Animation / Raccoons CBC 1989
One World, One Heart, One Mind / Emmanuel / Epic 1992
If You Could See Through My Eyes / Mona Lisa / Quality Records 1992
So Seductive / Tony Yayo / Fifty Cent / G-Unit 2005
Sticky Situation / EQ Atlantic Records 2007
Rock You Gently / Jennifer Warnes / Private Music 2017
Da Bomb / South Central Cartel / Hood Good Music 2018
Kea Jelwa / Hip Hop Pantsula / BFB Best Afro Music 2018
Getting Used To Love / Whitney Houston / *Unreleased
6 To The World / HP Boys / Warner 2020
Disoriental / Andrea Emanuele Brasi (aka Bresh) / 2020
Gabbiani / Frah Quintale / Undamento 2020
There Comes A Time / Dorothy Moore / Farrish Street Records 2020
Dave Guetta
Marvin Gaye
Brandi
Bruno Mars
Chris Brown
Fifty Cent
Tupac
Biggie Smalls