Happy Birthday Gil Scott Heron

“The way you get to know yourself is by the expression on other people's faces” - Gill Scott-Heron

(Gil Scott-Heron)

Gil Scott-Heron was born as Gilbert Scott-Heron on April 1st, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois. When Scott-Heron was 12 he moved with his mother to The Bronx, NY. Scott-Heron then attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Scott-Heron started writing music in 1970.

(Scott-Heron in 1970)

Bob Thiele of Flying Dutchman Records produced Scott-Heron’s 1st  album titled “Small Talk at 125th and Lenox” in 1970. In 1971 Scott-Heron released “Pieces of a man”.

(Gil Scott-Heron in 1971)

In 1972 he released his 3rd album “Free Will”. From 1974 to 1976 Scott-Heron released the albums “Winter In America” (1974), “Midnight Band: The First Minute of a New Day” (1975), and the live album “It's Your World” (1976). In 1975 he released the song “Johannesburg” which addressed the issue of apartheid in South Africa.

(Scott-Heron performing in 1975)

In 1978 his song “Angel Dust” reached No.15 on the R&B charts. Scott-Heron recorded and released four albums during the 1980s: “1980” (1980), “Real Eyes” (1980), “Reflections” (1981) and “Moving Target” (1982). In 1985 he stopped recording but continued to tour.

(Scott-Heron in 1985)

In 1993 Scott-Heron signed to TVT Records and released “Spirits” (1993). In 2001 Scott-Heron was sentenced one to three years in a New York state prison for possession of cocaine. He was released from jail in 2002 and released from parole in 2003. In October of 2003 during the editing of his film Gil Scott-Heron: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised he was arrested for the possession of a crack pipe and was sentenced 6 months in prison.

(Scott-Heron in 2003)

He was given parole on May 23, 2007 for leaving a drug rehabilitation center. He began to perform live again after being released from parole. On February, 9, 2010 Scott-Heron released “I'm New Here” under XL recordings.

(Scott-Heron performing in 2010)

On May 27th, 2011 Gil Scott-Heron died from HIV in New York City. He was 62 years old.

(Scott-Heron’s obituary)

Today is his 68th birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Gil Scott-Heron.

Albums by Gil Scott-Heron

• “Small Talk at 125th and Lenox” (1970)
• “Pieces of a Man” (1971)
• “Free Will” (1972)
• “Winter in America” (1974)
• “The First Minute of a New Day” (1975)
• “From South Africa to South Carolina” (1976)
• “It’s Your World” (1976)
• “Bridges” (1977)
• “Secrets” (1978)
• “1980” (1980)
• “Real Eyes” (1980)
• “Reflections” (1981)
• “Moving Target” (1982)
• “Spirits” (1994)
• “I’m New Here” (2010)
• “We’re New Here” (2011)
• “Nothing New” (2014)

Videos of Gil Scott-Heron

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZvWt29OG0s  “"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" - Gil Scott-Heron”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvHFuJX2Ock  “Gil Scott-Heron -Johannesburg -Live 1976 Old Grey Whistle Test”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEU2P33fcYI  “Gil Scott-Heron - Pieces of a Man (live)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmuJbGW4sYI  “Winter in America - Gil Scott Heron”