August 6: Jazz vocalist and actress Abbey Lincoln was born on this date in 1956...

... she was 80-years-old when she died on August 14, 2010.

Born Anna Marie Wooldridge in Chicago, Illinois, Abbey's singing style was influenced by Billie Holiday. She often could be found at the Blue Note in New York City.

She co-starred in Nothing But a Man with Ivan Dixon, an independent film written and directed by Michael Roemer. She also co-starred with Sidney Poitier and Beau Bridges in 1968's For Love of Ivy, and received a 1969 Golden Globe nomination for her appearance in the film.

Her first album, Abbey Lincoln’s Affair, A Story of a Girl in Love was released in 1956. Lincoln also appeared in the 1956 film The Girl Can't Help It, for which she famously wore a dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in Gentleman Prefer Blondes and interpreted the theme song, working with Benny Carter.

Lincoln sang on the 1960s landmark jazz civil rights recording, We Insist! – Freedom Now Suite by jazz musician Max Roach and was married to him from 1962 to 1970. After this album, Abbey Lincoln was associated with fighting racism in the U.S.

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In the 1990 Spike Lee movie Mo' Better Blues, she played young Bleek Gilliams' mother, who was very insistent that Bleek (played as an adult by Denzel Washington) come inside their house and practice his trumpet instead of playing outside with his friends.

In 2003, she received the National Endowment for the Arts NEA Jazz Masters Award.

Lincoln died on August 14, 2010 in Manhattan at the age of 80. She died in her Manhattan nursing home after suffering deteriorating health for years following open heart surgery in 2007. No cause of death was officially given.

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