HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY, GIL SCOTT-HERON!
This website is the online resource for Gil Scott-Heron’s forthcoming autobiography, THE LAST HOLIDAY. The title refers to the successful campaign by Gil and Stevie Wonder to have Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday recognized as a national holiday in the United States. Over the coming months extracts, fragments and audio recordings of Gil reading the book will be posted here, building to the publication of a printed edition in January 2011.
PIECES OF A MAN is Gil’s second album, released in 1971, and remains one of his most critically acclaimed records. The purpose of this website is to publish his story in fragments, to piece it together in his own words with reflections, ruminations and rhapsodies on an influential and inspirational life.
For starters you can find an extract of an early section of the book, about the special significance of 1st April, and an audio recording of Gil reading from an early draft of the text. Please sign up with your email below for updates and news concerning the website and book.
Chance-taker
Emotion voyager
Street-strutter
Contemporary Spirit
Untamed Proud Poet
Rough Healer
He is His
Miss Gwendolyn Brooks
Gil Scott-Heron: Pieces of a man
Gil Scott-Heron was born in Chicago. He has been opening eyes, minds and souls for over forty years. A highly influential and widely admired singer, proto-rapper, jazz pianist, published poet, novelist and socio-political commentator, Scott-Heron remains a unique and major figure in global music. With over twenty albums to his name, his politically charged output has won him an international following. His work illuminates a philosophy of life that holds human affection as well as political and artistic responsibility the underlying factors that inspire his writing.
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