Gil Scott-Heron, the poet and recording artist whose syncopated spoken style and mordant critiques of politics, racism and mass media in pieces like "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" made him a notable voice of black protest culture in the 1970s and an important early influence on hip-hop, died at a hospital in Manhattan. He was 62 and had been a longtime resident of Harlem.
During the 1970s, Mr. Scott-Heron was seen as a prodigy with significant potential, although he never achieved wide popularity. He recorded 13 albums between 1970 and 1982.
By the mid-1980s, Mr. Scott-Heron had begun to fade, and in later years he struggled publicly with addiction. Since 2001, he had been convicted twice for cocaine possession, and he served a sentence at Rikers Island for parole violation.
In interviews, Mr. Scott-Heron often dodged questions about drugs, but the writer of the New Yorker profile reported witnessing Mr. Scott-Heron's smoking crack and being so troubled by his ravaged physical appearance that he avoided mirrors.
Despite Mr. Scott-Heron's public problems, he remained an admired cult figure who made occasional concert appearances and was sought after as a collaborator.
I had Gil Scott-Heron do a show at my college in the mid-80's - it was a really cool show.
Too bad about his drug demons... :(
RIP Gil Scott-Heron
ADG
Far-L
05-29-2011 03:00 AM
A damn shame. I knew he was going soon after I read that New Yorker bio.
Now the revolution will definitely not be televised.
Coup
05-29-2011 03:02 AM
RIP :2 cents::2 cents:
MaDalton
05-29-2011 03:57 AM
great musician, big influence for many other musicians. RIP
2intense
05-29-2011 04:41 AM
Rip :( :( :(
Barry-xlovecam
05-29-2011 06:23 AM
Gil Scott-Heron was a poet, some say prophet or visionary, that set his poetry to music. The bitterness of his soul led do his own death at a young age.
Me And The Devil
Message to the Messengers
THE LAST POETS E PLURIBUS UNUM
teomaxxx
05-29-2011 09:00 AM
his new remix album with Jamie XX is killing me
Caligari
05-29-2011 09:11 AM
really sucks, he was truly ground breaking.
INever
05-29-2011 09:31 AM
And now it's winter, winter in America....
INever
05-29-2011 10:29 AM
When we were kids we used to do "the hustle", dancing to this song (among others). Sidewalks of NYC....
RIP GSH....
MaDalton
05-29-2011 02:32 PM
i forgot how good he was... listening to all those songs now
The Heron
05-29-2011 03:48 PM
Not to be confused with 'The Heron' who is still alive and well and running www.BirdBucks.com
Socks
05-29-2011 04:07 PM
Just heard this last night, he was truly a legend in certain circles.
NemesisEnforcer
05-29-2011 06:23 PM
Dot dot dit dit dot dot dash ... RIP
RampantTV
05-31-2011 09:18 AM
Such an incredibly sad day. He will always be a legend.
PR_Glen
05-31-2011 09:40 AM
i can see where public enemy got their influence from for sure...
