Abbey Lincoln in Paris, 1967. Photo: Philippe Gras / Le Pictorium
1930 Born Anna Marie Wooldridge in Chicago, Illinois on August 6, 1930.
Moves to California to perform in nightclubs.
Moves to Honolulu, Hawaii to be a resident singer in a club.
Returns to California and performs and various clubs.
Records her first album, “Abbey Lincoln’s Affair: A Story of a Girl in Love.”
Performs a song in the film, “The Girl Can’t Help It.”
Moves to New York and begins working at the Village Vanguard, a jazz club in Greenwich Village.
Releases the album, “That’s Him!”
Releases the album, “It’s Magic.”
Releases the album, “Abbey Is Blue.”
Records and releases the “We Insist! Freedom Now Suite” with Max Roach.
Releases the album, “Straight Ahead.”
Marries Max Roach.
Release of her film, “Nothing but a Man.”
With Max Roach, Lincoln plays a large role in civil rights activism through performances at benefits and fundraisers for the NAACP and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).
Release of her film, “For the Love of Ivy.”
Releases the album “People in Me,” her first lead album in 12 years after “Straight Ahead.”
Releases the album, “Talking to the Sun,” under Enja Records.
Releases the albums “Abbey Sings Billie, Vol. 1” and “Abbey Sings Billie, Vol. 2” as a tribute to Billie Holiday with Enja Records.
Stars in Spike Lee’s movie, “Mo’ Better Blues.” Signs with Verve Records. Releases the album, “The World Is Falling Down.”
Releases the album, “You Gotta Pay the Band.”
Releases the album, “Devil’s Got Your Tongue.”
Releases the album, “When There is Love.”
Releases the album, “A Turtle’s Dream.”
Releases the album, “Painted Lady.”
Releases the albums “Who Used to Dance” and "You & I."
Releases the album, “Wholly Earth.”
Releases the album, “Over the Years.”
Releases the album, “It’s Me.”
Releases the album, “Naturally.”
Lincoln records her last album before her death, titled “Abbey Sings Abbey.”
Abbey Lincoln dies in her home in New York on August 14, 2010 at the age of 80.
