Farewell Abbey Lincoln

'There are gorgeous women, there are spirited women, there are genius women — Abbey Lincoln was all of that. You don't find an artist that embodies this kind of level of physical beauty and cerebral magnificence in one package.'

Abbey Lincoln, a jazz singer and songwriter known for her phrasing, emotion and uncompromising style, died on Saturday in New York at age 80.

As a young woman, Lincoln made a splash not only because of her voice, but her beauty. Early album covers featured her in slinky dresses, and she appeared in a Jayne Mansfield movie wearing the dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.”

But after falling under Roach’s influence, Lincoln turned her back on that image, casting herself instead as a civil rights advocate, dressing in African-inspired clothing and hairstyles, and making music with a political tone.

She had been declining in health for the past year. Her death was confirmed by friend and filmmaker Carol Friedman, who has been working on a documentary on Lincoln’s life.

For the full story go to CI’s Farewells page.