Gil Scott-Heron was 62. He was the poet, musician, and author known primarily for his work as a spoken word performer in the 1970s and 80s, and for his collaborative soul works with musician Brian Jackson. He was the man behind such seminal pieces of music as “Home Is Where The Hatred Is” and “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”.
I'm late with this one... Gil Scott-Heron passed on Friday. I received the following note late last night via the contact form.
Hey Mike
No RIP for Gil Scott-Heron? He didn't really skip your generation did he?
I'm in my mid-thirties. I've been listening to music from various genres for as long as I can remember. Gil Scott-Heron's contribution to music has been seriously under reported.
In fact, I only know of "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" because one of my favourite albums of all time, It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, by one of my favourite bands of all time, Public Enemy, opens with this:
Peace. Armageddon has been in effect, go get a late pass... step. This time around the revolution will not be televised…step. London, England... consider yourselves... warned!
I'm getting a late pass myself. I have some catching up to do.
