Dubbed the “godfather of rap” for his poetry and music, Gil Scott-Heron died at 4:00 p.m. Friday at St. Luke’s Hospital in New York City. He was 62.
The talented musician was best known for the 1970 song The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, a socially and politically charged song that was banned by some radio stations. The anthem put him on the musical map. In 2010, the New Statesman listed it as one of the “Top 20 Political Songs”.
Scott-Heron became sick upon returning from a recent European trip. Upon hearing the news of his death, R&B singer Usher paid tribute: “I just learned of the loss of a very important poet…R.I.P. Gil Scott-Heron. The revolution will be live!!”
Born in 1949, Scott-Heron gained famed for his poetry and spoken word performances in the late 1960s. By the mid-70s, he had published two books of poetry and recorded four albums. Pieces of a Man and Winter in America were credited with influencing the hip hop genre.
After a 13-year break, Scott-Heron released a new album last year titled I’m New Here. That body of work, particularly his single Me And The Devil, received critical acclaim from music critics.
The musician told New York magazine in 2008 that he had contracted HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, after years of battling drug and alcohol addiction.
Check out another photo and video performances of The Revolution Will Not Be Televised and Me And The Devil below:
Photos: WENN