Gil Scott-Heron 1 April 1949 –27 May 2011
Singer, songwriter, musician, poet and author Gil Scott-Heron died aged 62 at St. Luke's Hospital in New York. Scott-Heron had become ill following a recent trip to Europe.
Scott-Heron was known for biting satirical poems such as The Revolution Will Not Be Televised and We Almost Lost Detroit that were often set to music with long-time collaborator, Brian Jackson. On songs such as The Bottle, Lady Day And John Coltrane and Home Is Where The Hated Is, Scott-Heron replaced spoken-word with a bluesy and world-weary singing voice.
As well as being an influence on hip-hop as a genre as well as individual politicised rappers such as Public Enemy's Chuck D and Kanye West, Scott-Heron was one of the artists who inspired the British 'Acid Jazz' movement of the 1980s which gave birth to artists such as the Brand New Heavies, Galliano and the multi-million selling Jamiroquai.
On hearing the news of the singer's death, the artist's UK publisher, Jamie Byng paid tribute to Scott-Heron, saying: 'Just heard the very sad news that my dear friend and one of the most inspiring people I've ever met, the great Gil Scott-Heron, died today.'
2010's I'm New Here was reworked by Jamie xx and released by XL Records as We're New Here in 2011.
Singer, songwriter, musician, poet and author Gil Scott-Heron died aged 62 at St. Luke's Hospital in New York. Scott-Heron had become ill following a recent trip to Europe.
Scott-Heron was known for biting satirical poems such as The Revolution Will Not Be Televised and We Almost Lost Detroit that were often set to music with long-time collaborator, Brian Jackson. On songs such as The Bottle, Lady Day And John Coltrane and Home Is Where The Hated Is, Scott-Heron replaced spoken-word with a bluesy and world-weary singing voice.
As well as being an influence on hip-hop as a genre as well as individual politicised rappers such as Public Enemy's Chuck D and Kanye West, Scott-Heron was one of the artists who inspired the British 'Acid Jazz' movement of the 1980s which gave birth to artists such as the Brand New Heavies, Galliano and the multi-million selling Jamiroquai.
On hearing the news of the singer's death, the artist's UK publisher, Jamie Byng paid tribute to Scott-Heron, saying: 'Just heard the very sad news that my dear friend and one of the most inspiring people I've ever met, the great Gil Scott-Heron, died today.'
2010's I'm New Here was reworked by Jamie xx and released by XL Records as We're New Here in 2011.
