Gil Scott-Heron RIP

[PHILLYQ]

Over at Hoffman they're reporting this and there seems to be confirmation in the thread from NPR:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=252141

[Dave James]

Over at Hoffman they're reporting this and there seems to be confirmation in the thread from NPR:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=252141

Not totally unexpected, but still sad news. I bought his album "Pieces Of A Man" in the early '70's for "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". I was heavily invested in the anti-war effort at the time so that song really resonated with me. While listening to it, I distinctly recall being attracted to "Lady Day and John Coltrane" even though I didn't have much more than a passing understanding of who either one was. Point being those references stayed with me as did his music through just about every album he produced into the '80's. I loved the way he and Brian Jackson played with words and sounds. A particular favorite of mine was the mostly obscure "We Almost Lost Detroit". As haunting a tune as you're likely to hear. If there's such a thing as a one off, Scott-Heron was one. Wish you'd had an easier life, brother, but know that you brought a lot of joy into the lives of those who were willing to listen.

[ValerieB]

oh, dear. and still so young but what a life led! a lot of miles on those tires! thank goodness he left a lot behind.

[Van Basten II]

At least, I got the chance to see him live last year, show was not memorable except it started something like 3 hours late as he was MIA for a good part of the day doing God knows what. On more positive news his truly last album I'm new here was a great one.

RIP

Edited May 28, 2011 by Van Basten II

[CJ Shearn]

Damn, RIP. A great, influential figure, if more rappers took his approach, all the "mainstream" stuff we'd hear be so much better.

[Shawn]

FUCK!

[Alexander]

Sad. Fortunately, he put out one last great album before he passed...

[JSngry]

[JSngry]

[JSngry]

[JSngry]

[Noj]

Thanks for the great songs, Gil. "Gun" and "The Bottle" are favorites. RIP.

[sidewinder]

Although not totally unexpected - sad news to start today with. RIP.

[mjazzg]

A true great gone, deeply saddening.

For me 'Winter in America' is right up there with 'What's going on' as a political and personal songcycle that leaps through any concept of genre.

I saw him live several times and there was always those spine-tingling moments when lyrics and melodies (and what melodies) combined to maximum effect.

B-Movie was the stand-out track on a cassette (remember them?) given away free with NME in early 80s - it resonated here in th UK, heaven only knows how it must have in the US - it was my entry point to such a vast trove of magic songs that seemed to nail the truth be it about human feelings or the human condition.

His demons took their toll for sure but he left us with a deep well to continue to revisit

RIP and thanks, Gil

[John L]

RIP

[king ubu]

Very sad news!

Bad way to start the weekend, for sure... dammit!

[Hardbopjazz]

Sad to hear this. RIP.

[Christiern]

Sad news, but drugs will open that exit door prematurely. He left us much to feed on—there isn't a rapper born who can come close to matching Gil Scott-Heron's observations of life.

Now I'll hit The Bottle and the impact of his departure will become even more real.

[Teasing the Korean]

Sad. I love his stuff on Flying Dutchman.

[Peter Johnson]

Absolutely crushed by this news. Saw him a few times over the last few years, and the darkness set forth in that recent New Yorker article notwithstanding, he really seemed to be on the relatively right path. RIP.

[Stefan Wood]

This is fantastic!

Edited May 29, 2011 by Stefan Wood

[mikeweil]

Turns out I still have all the four LPs I bought in the late 1970's - I lked his music a lot back then, although I didn't understand all of his messages, I must admit. Compared to his engaging lyrics about all kinds of social and political issues most other songs of his contemporaries sound like childish love songs. We have kind of a German counterpart in Konstantin Wecker, substance problems included. I remember I pulled all four from cutout bins - he never was a big seller over here.

He always placed a rather peaceful song at the end of his albums - I wish him peace where he is now. I will miss his charming voice ... and hope there will always be a songwriter as engaged as he was.

Edited May 29, 2011 by mikeweil

[ValerieB]

Turns out I still have all the four LPs I bought in the late 1970's - i lked his music a lot back then, although I didn't understand all of his messages, I must admit. Compared to his enganging lyrics about all kinds of social and political issues most other songs of his contemporaries sound like childish love songs. We have kind of a German counterpart in Konstantin Wecker, substance problems included. I remember I pulled all four from cutout bins - he never was a big seller over here.

He always placed a rather peaceful song at the end of his albums - I wish him peace where he is now. I will miss his charming voice ... and hope there will always be a songwriter as engaged as he was.

that is very cool, Mike. hopefully, they're still in good condition and you can enjoy them now more than before.

[StarThrower]

I'm gonna miss Gil Scott-Heron. I used to play his music on my radio show quite a bit. The listeners really dug Gil.

I got see him perform last June at the Syracuse Jazz Festival. He looked a bit shabby, but was still sharp as a tack,

and very funny! RIP

[mikeweil]

that is very cool, Mike. hopefully, they're still in good condition and you can enjoy them now more than before.

Thanks for the nice words - the LPs are in surprisingly good condition, I played two of them today. The groove the band hits is still fresh and exciting, and some of the songs still do move me. The singer he featured on From South Africa to South Carolina, Victor Brown, had such a powerful voice ... and what lyrics, his vision was so clear:

You know there won't be no more killings

and no more talk of class;

your sons and your daughters

won't die in the hour glass.

I'm convinced this vision will stay alive as long it is not fulfilled. This afternoon my wife and I had conversation with a 30-year old choirmaster who had asked me to accompany his students' choir in a performance ln mid-June; his father, an engineer, came to the German Democratic Republic from Uganda and married a colleague there. He still gets comments from people who are amazed at his fluent German, once was denied access to the organ culprit when he was supposed to give a recital etc. etc. - Scott-Heron's vision still has to be realized.

Edited May 30, 2011 by mikeweil