Gil Scott-Heron Musical artist

Gilbert "Gil" Scott-Heron (April 1, 1949 – May 27, 2011) was an American soul and jazz poet, musician, and author, known primarily for his work as a spoken word performer in the 1970s and '80s. His collaborative efforts with musician Brian Jackson featured a musical fusion of jazz, blues, and soul, as well as lyrical content concerning social and political issues of the time, delivered in both rapping and melismatic vocal styles by Scott-Heron. His own term for himself was "bluesologist", which he defined as "a scientist who is concerned with the origin of the blues." His music, most notably on Pieces of a Man and Winter in America in the early 1970s, influenced and helped engender later African-American music genres such as hip hop and neo soul.Besides influencing contemporary musicians, Scott-Heron remained active until his death, and in 2010 released his first new album in 16 years, entitled I'm New Here. A memoir he had been working on for years up to the time of his death, The Last Holiday, was also published, posthumously in January 2012.His recording work received much critical acclaim, especially one of his best-known compositions "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". His poetic style has influenced every generation of hip hop.

Personal facts

Gil Scott-Heron
Alias (AKA)Scott-Heron Gilbert (full name)
Birth dateApril 01, 1949
Birth place
Chicago
Date of deathMay 27, 2011
Place of death
New York City

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Musical artist

Career started1969
Career ended2011
associated musical artist
Blues
Ron Holloway
Jamie xx
Blackalicious
Musicians United for Safe Energy
Brian Jackson (musician)
Malik & the O.G's
BackgroundSolo singer
genre
Blues
Jazz
Rapping
Soul music
Jazz poetry
Jazz-funk
instrument
Rhodes piano
record label
TVT Records
Strata-East Records
RCA Records
Flying Dutchman
Arista Records
XL Recordings

Gil Scott-Heron on Wikipedia

External resources

  1. http://books.google.com/books?id=KbPWYdpts78C&printsec=frontcover
  2. http://brooklynrail.org/2007/11/express/an-american-griot-gil-scott-heron-with-d
  3. http://historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/herontelevised.html
  4. http://vimeo.com/24442513
  5. http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-perl/music/muze/index.pl?site=music&action=biography&artist_id=26876
  6. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0128fkc
  7. http://www.discogs.com/artist/Gil+Scott-Heron
  8. http://www.fore-word.com/bookreviews.htm
  9. http://www.gilscottheron.net
  10. http://www.gilscottherononline.com