Gil Scott-Heron
Blues, Musical Artist
1949 – 2011
Who was Gil Scott-Heron?
Gilbert "Gil" Scott-Heron 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.
We need you!
Help us build the largest biographies collection on the web!
- Born
- Apr 1, 1949
Chicago - Also known as
- Gil Scott
- Gill Scott Heron
- Gil Scot-Heron
- Scott-Heron, Gil
- Gil Scott Heron
- Gilbert "Gil" Scott-Heron
- Gilbert Scott-Heron
- Gil Dcott-Heron
- Parents
- Siblings
- Spouses
- Brenda Sykes
(1978/12 - 1987)
- Brenda Sykes
- Children
- Ethnicity
- African American
- Jamaican American
- Nationality
- United States of America
- Profession
- Education
- Master's Degree, Johns Hopkins University
Creative writing
( - 1972) - Ethical Culture Fieldston School
- Lincoln University
- DeWitt Clinton High School
- Master's Degree, Johns Hopkins University
- Lived in
- The Bronx
- Jackson
- Chicago
- Died
- May 27, 2011
New York City
Submitted
on July 23, 2013
Citation
Use the citation below to add to a bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Gil Scott-Heron." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/gil_scott-heron>.
Discuss this Gil Scott-Heron biography with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In