United States
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Gil Scott-Heron
Chicago, United States
Archival Overview
Influential American spoken-word poet, soul musician, and activist hailed as the 'Godfather of Rap', famous for his scathing social satire The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.
Biographical Record
Gil Scott-Heron was raised in Jackson, Tennessee, and the Bronx, publishing his first novel 'The Vulture' at age nineteen while studying at Lincoln University. Partnering with keyboardist Brian Jackson, he blended jazz, blues, and spoken-word political poetry.
In 1970, Scott-Heron recorded 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised', an incisive critique of consumerist media, racism, and urban neglect that profoundly shaped early hip-hop culture. Across albums like 'Pieces of a Man' and 'Winter in America', he articulated Black political consciousness, returning in 2010 with the acclaimed final album 'I'm New Here'.
Key Life Milestones
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Recorded the revolutionary spoken-word track that anticipated rap music and defined countercultural protest.
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
Posthumously honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his seminal influence on American music.
Memorial Guestbook & Tributes
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Final Resting Place
Perpetual MemorialNew York City, United States