Gil Scott-Heron



My relationship with Gil Scott-Heron is deep, complicated and old. His genius and artistry has never failed to amaze me. And whenever I saw him live, I always knew I was getting the best of what he has: no matter where in his life he, or even I for that matter, had happened to be in. I remember seeing Gil Scott-Heron play a show, I think it was at the Knitting Factory, but anyway, his telling the audience that his moms was sick, and how he left after the show and ended up standing right next to us in the train station, taking the same train uptown and my being like, damn, that's Gil Scott-Heron...Gil Scott-Heron to me is wisdom for the soul.
Real life is complicated: And Gil Scott-Heron never ever tried to tell us differently.
So, Blackgirl on Mars would like to express a personal welcome back to the Griot: You've been missed! Here's a taste of his new stuff! Thanks Malaika Adero for sending me this link!
Here's a quote from a Village Voice interview he gave a few years ago:
What about Black youth?
What about them?
What important challenges are they facing now?
Getting to be adults.
What's preventing them from doing that now?
Nothing. Except taxes. The money needs to be spent more on the things that will help them. In our community, we have a whole lotta of people that need help. We need better housing. We need better schools, relationships, and we need to socialize. We pay all these people to represent us. We pay their salaries. They are actually our employees.
farvel,
the lab

Comments

Anonymous said…
I remember seeing Mr. Heron in concert in Paris. As soon as I left I called my mother to tell her that he still gives me food for thought after all of these years. I grew up with Gil Scot Heron playing on our huge console when I was a child. Didn't know what "Angel Dust" was when he sang it but I knew it was definitely something that I didn't want around me nor my family. You could feel his wisdom, his joy and pain.

He looked so fragile in Paris, I was holding my breath, anticipating that he'd have to stop the show due to his horrible health, but he didn't. He sang, talked, moaned and we were all the better for it.

Thank you for this post.

Felicia, This Time in Seoul
1:10 AM
upfromsumdirt said…
his talent has deeply affected me in all the ways i attempt to be creative.
a true icon...
4:17 PM
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