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Tributes are paid to American musician and poet

Tributes are paid to American musician and poet

Tributes have been paid to the American musician and poet Gil Scott-Heron who has died aged 62.

Mr. Scott-Heron had been referred to as the godfather of rap, but he was dismissive of this title. 

His work spanned blues, jazz, soul and the spoken word, and was to prove influential to the hip-hop and rap genres.

He was born in Chicago in 1949 — the son of Jamaican Gil Heron who was the first black player at Glasgow Celtic when he signed for the club in the 1950s.

A great deal of his work carried political messages. He spoke out for civil rights and stood against many issues including apartheid and consumerism.

He appeared at the No Nukes concert held at New York’s Madison Square Garden in 1979.

His The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (1970) was a critique of race in the mass media and advertising age.

He battled problems with drink and drugs and at one point served a prison term for drug possession.

Last year [2010] he released his first new recording for 16 years I’m New Here, which received critical acclaim and brought him to the attention of a new generation.

He died in New York after falling ill following his return from a visit to Europe.

For a performance of Gil Scott-Heron’s The Revolution Will Not Be Televised Click here.

 

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