Reports confirmed that Scott-Heron had died St Luke's Hospital, New York, after becoming sick upon returning from a European trip. His death brought to an end a troubled career that was blighted by personal turmoil and addiction, but which also saw the singer create some of the most influential music of the last 40 years.
In response, Public Enemy's Chuck D stated "RIP GSH...and we do what we do and how we do because of you." on his Twitter account. His UK publisher, Jamie Byng, called him "one of the most inspiring people I've ever met”. On hearing of the death, R&B singer Usher stated "I just learned of the loss of a very important poet...R.I.P., Gil Scott-Heron. The revolution will be live!!”. Richard Russel, who produced Scott-Heron's final studio album, called him a "father figure of sorts to me”. Eminem stated that "He influenced all of hip-hop”.
He was born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 1, 1949, Scott-Heron moved to the Bronx in his teenage years. He grew up immersed in jazz and blues, penning two novels - The Vulture (1970) and Nigger Factory (1972) - as he embarked on his own musical career.
His collaborative efforts with Brian Jackson featured a musical fusion of jazz, blues and soul music, as well as lyrical content concerning social and political issues of the time, delivered in both rapping and melismatic vocal styles by Scott-Heron. The music of these albums, most notably 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. Scott-Heron's recording work is often associated with black militant activism and has received much critical acclaim for one of his most well-known compositions The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. His poetic style has been influential upon every generation of hip hop since his popularity began. In addition to being widely considered an influence in today's music, Scott-Heron remained active until his death, and in 2010 released his first new album in 16 years, entitled I'm New Here.
Scott-Heron's influence was such that, at the time of writing, a number of musicians began paying tribute to the man and so will we at Tune Of The Day.
He has been described by music writers as "the godfather of rap" and "the black Bob Dylan”. On his influence, a music writer later noted that "Scott-Heron's unique proto-rap style influenced a generation of hip-hop artists”. The Washington Post wrote that "Scott-Heron's work presaged not only conscious rap and poetry slams, but also acid jazz, particularly during his rewarding collaboration with composer-keyboardist-flutist Brian Jackson in the mid- and late ’70s.”
Todays tune is the title track taken from his thirteenth studio album "I'm New Here”. His last studio album in his lifetime, following a period of personal and legal troubles with drug addiction. Primarily a blues and spoken-word album, I'm New Here serves as musical and lyrical departure from Scott-Heron's previous work.
Credits for I'm New Here adapted from liner notes.
Damon Albarn – keyboards
Mike Block – strings
Chris Cunningham – guitar, synthesizer
Tiona Hall – backing vocals
Michelle Hutcherson – backing vocals
Kim Jordan – backing vocals, piano
Phil Lee – artwork
Christiana Liberis – strings
Rodaidh McDonald – additional recording and mixing
Ichiho Nishiki – engineer
Mischa Richter – artwork
Richard Russell – producer, cover photo
Gil Scott-Heron – piano, vocals
Tyria Stokes – backing vocals
Mary Jo Stilp – strings
Pat Sullivan – guitar
Una Tone – strings
Lawson White – engineer, string arrangements
Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here by musicmule
In 2010 he was due to play a gig in Tel Aviv, this attracted criticism from Palestinian groups who stated "Your performance in Israel would be the equivalent to having performed in Sun City during South Africa’s apartheid era... We hope that you will not play apartheid Israel." In response he cancelled the gig.
RIP Gil Scott-Heron!
More info @ Official Gil Scott-Heron Website
Listen to ”Gil Scott-Heron - I'm New Here" on Spotify here!Follow tuneoftheday.blogspot.com on Spotify here!
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