Truth and lyricism rivaling Morrison. "Lady Day and John Coltrane" —so much pain, so much hope—still washes my troubles away. Struggle made beautiful.
His voice, his delivery, was the beating heart of his poetry and allowed the words to shine—to lead, not be subsumed by, percussion or any other instrument. I'll be interested to see if the drummer Mr. McCraven maintains the humility necessary to highlight Gil's gift. The fact that he saw the need to remove an apparently synthesized percussion track is a good indication.
RIP Gil Scott-Herón
3
Thank you for this article. It made me do a deeper dive into his albums past the ones I already own. If what the article is stating about his offspring's squabbles keeping several great albums from being readily available is correct, his children are doing music lovers a big disservice.
Get over it, and let's get this music back out there for the general public to hear again. We NEED his voice and his music in these difficult times.
9
"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" was an underground smash little-known by white audiences when it was released. How could it have attained wide popularity, with lines like "The revolution will not be right back after a message/About a white tornado, white lightning, or white people"? So funny, but too mordant, too trenchant. I was fortunate to see Gil at the old Bottom Line nightclub in 1974, when his album "The First Minute of a New Day" had just been released, containing "Winter in America" and his Watergate monologue "We Beg Your Pardon." He and Brian Jackson performed most of that album and it was a stunning evening. I don't know if he was sober or not but he was definitely at the top of his game. He had such a great, infectious smile, even when he was sticking a knife deep into the heart of hypocrisy. Even though he was introduced to mainstream audiences by Richard Pryor on "Saturday Night Live," and sang "Johannesburg," he was then and remains today something of a cult figure. Too bad, because his music said a lot, and meant a lot, more than most people realize.
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I always find it ironic that the NYT covers people who are completely incompatible with the values reflected in the Times. Probably anyone reading this article knows about the welfare poets, some of the many descendants of GSH. https://youtu.be/nUqJgwntuEc
3
“and all of the heroes have killed or sent away, but the people know lts winter in America”
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How can the author describe Bob Marley as "less politically literate?"
1
@rc
Marley's appeal was emotional. So was GS-H but it was also pragmatic.
5
I am glad to see Gil Scott Heron is still in the ears and minds of a few - and some apparently new. It seems though that much of his message and his legacy has been dissapeared. Not necessarily consciously, but rather in the same way that our society paves over much of its subtle and more delicate culture and storytellers in favor of the big, the garish, the shiny and distracting.
I remember when Gil died, and like Elvin Jones, after a life of incredible richness love and output, the American response was barely a footnote. In the case of Gil, the requisite mention of The Revolution Will Not Be.. but so few seemed to know anything about him, or his work other than this passing reference. I hope people who read this article go to Gil's back catalog and read about his life - how much of what we are experiencing now he foresaw! Listen to H20gate Blues and see if you can empathize!
During a performance Gil spoke of the meaning of his piece The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (a meaning, I believe is commonly misunderstood):
"A lot of time people see battles and skirmishes on TV and the say: 'Ah Ha! The revolution is being televised' - Nah! The RESULTS of the revolution are being televised. The first revolution is when you change your mind about how you look at things and see there might be another way to look at it that you have not been shown! What you see later on is the results of that, but the revolution - that change that takes place - will not be televised."
17
My respect for Gill Scott-Heron runs deep. I remember the thrill of hearing he was releasing a new record back in 2010, eagerly buying it when it was released and finding myself in tears upon hearing “On Coming From a Broken Home, pt 2”. Then reading the amazing New Yorker profile and feeling a sense of helplessness upon learning of Mr. Scott-Heron's frailty as he struggled with addiction. And then the crushing news of his death not even a full year later. It was a great loss and one that still stings... I long to hear what he would say today, but take comfort that other African American voices, inspired by him and the amazing writers, poets, and musicians who both preceded and succeeded him, carry the mantel and tell their stories--stories vital to their community, to the American experience, and to the world. I very much look forward to buying this record and being moved anew by his brilliance and by the inspired work of Mr McCraven and his collaborators.
15
I began my media literacy class this semester playing Gil Scott-Heron's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." I explained how hearing the song on progressive radio in the early 1970's opened my mind to a different way of thinking. I also went over the cultural references in the song. I asked the students to think about what media texts they hear, watch, or read today that may get them to think, or even if there are any that encourage them to think.
Part of Gil Scott-Heron's legacy is helping to make that young man all those decades ago a college professor today. I hope that people continue to listen.
14
In my case incidental exposure to 1971's "Pieces Of A Man" played a large part in transforming a petty little semi-racist boy-teenager raised in the deep South into a hopefully thoughtful and aware adult. I still listen to it and many of his other works frequently 49 years later. Even in his later years, ravaged by drugs and related personal problems, he was still capable of moving anyone willing to listen.
13
Good seeing Gil Scott-Heron receiving some attention. He and the Last Poets were the forerunners of rap and hip hop and it’s not nearly acknowledged enough IMO. It would be great if someone industry powerful like Dr Dre, Jay Z or Rick Rubin would help finance and assemble a collected works of these seminal artists. That way younger listeners could hear where their favorite sounds came from.
10
I heard him and and his band play at my small, mostly white college in the late 70s. Some of the phrases he sang that night — "what's the word," "home is where the hatred is," "why don't you stop using drugs, that's easy for you to say, that's easy for you to say, that's easy for you to say, that's easy for you to say" — are still in my head 40 years later. I can almost hear his voice, singing.
11
Brother tell me have you heard...
1
What is he doing? I'm curious what Mr. McCraven's musical POV is. Gil Scott Heron's legacy is solid.
2
Poet, prophet, musician par excellence. Even back in the '70's, he had a reputation for not showing up for concerts. I had tickets to hear him in Cleveland but he was a no show.
What an amazing, still relevant talent. It is indeed "Winter in America". Without his struggle with drugs, I've often wondered what other masterpieces he would have produced.
6
In the years when he and Brian Jackson created "Winter in America " I went to Howard U for a concert. The concert was beyond me to explain for now; all who attended were in rhythm as well at the concert building most of that evening. Attended with my sister!
3
I loved his voice, and what he said with it.
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@Marcus
Agreed. "Better Days Ahead" (from "Secrets", 1978) must be one of his most heartfelt and poignant songs.
Also, am I wrong to think that Seu Jorge owes him a lot, vocally speaking?
1
Gil Scott-Heron's poetry and music are just as poignant, articulate, and powerful today as when originally released. Sadly, I sense this is because so little has really changed in the past 40 years, and his observations remain just as true today.
26
I am one of many who attended Lincoln University (Oxford, PA) in the late 1960s/early 1970s who was blessed to meet and spend time with Gil when he was in a good and creative space.
He and his classmates gave concerts at the student union, and we heard the music live before it went to the radio.
He was smart and creative.
He was woke and so were we.
As today’s news illustrates, when a Rush Limbaugh is given the presidential medal of freedom and a 100 year-old Tuskegee airman just gets an ovation, Gil was right about the existential threat to African-Americans.
Our nation is in serious trouble. Gil, ever the prophet, was way ahead of his time in America.
Black lives matter.
He is missed.
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