Lincoln began working professionally in the early 1920s. In the 1920s and 1930s, he spent time playing with
Adrian Rollini's California Ramblers (and was the replacement trombonist for
Tommy Dorsey), as well as with
Arthur Lange,
Ace Brigode,
Roger Wolfe Kahn,
Paul Whiteman, and
Ozzie Nelson. As a studio musician, Abe most prominently performed occasional solos and dixieland-stylings during the musical portions on the
Old Time radio and
Fibber McGee and Molly. He also played with the
Billy Mills Orchestra. In the 1930s and into the 1940s, he worked primarily in Los Angeles studios as a sideman. During the Dixieland revival, his career saw a resurgence, playing with
Wingy Manone, the
Rampart Street Paraders,
Red Nichols,
Bob Scobey,
Pete Fountain,
Jack Teagarden, and
Matty Matlock. Lincoln played his trombone for music and sound effects "for
Walter Lantz Woody Woodpecker cartoons and some
Buster Keaton comedies". He recorded with
Bill Davison and did freelance work into the 1970s. He retired around 1980, but still occasionally performed at weddings and other special occasions. ==Personal life==