The influential jazz singer and songwriter ABBEY LINCOLN has died aged 80. Lincoln - who was born in Chicago, Illinois - had a long and distinguished career, and continued to perform until the time of her death. She was heavily influenced by Billie Holiday, and mimicked the raw and strong vocal style of the seminal jazz and pop singer. As well as becoming a leading jazz artist, Lincoln was also an actress, starring in the 1964 independent film Nothing But a Man, and alongside Sidney Poitier in 1968's For Love of Ivy - a performance that gained her a Golden Globe nomination. For the 1956 film The Girl Can't Help It, she famously wore the dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in Gentleman Prefer Blondes. In 1990, she appeared alongside ACADEMY AWARD winning actor Denzel Washington in the Spike Lee movie Mo' Better Blues.
Her musical career contained numerous highlights, including appearing on the 1960 civil rights record We Insist! - Freedom Now Suite, by MAX ROACH, whom she was married to from 1962 till 1970.
On 14th August 2010, Lincoln's death was announced to the New York Times by her brother David Wooldridge, who said she had suffered from deteriorating health for several years.