Gil Scott-Heron Dead At 62

Gil Scott-Heron, widely credited as a father of hip-hop and best known for his spoken word piece, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” has died in New York City at age 62.

National Public Radio said Scott-Heron’s death was confirmed by his book publisher, who did not give a cause. He had struggled for years with substance abuse issues and spent much time in and out of jail on drug-related charges in the last decade. However, he began touring and performing again in 2007 and released an album, I’m New Here, in 2010 to critical acclaim.

Scott-Heron was born in Chicago but settled in Manhattan, releasing his first recording, Small Talk At 125th And Lenox, in 1970. It included the first version of “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” which became a pop culture touchstone during the Vietnam War and beyond.