Gil Scott-Heron, American poet, musician, and author, is dead at the age of 62, according to reports.
Scott-Heron is probably best known for his spoken word soul and jazz classics "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised", "We Almost Lost Detroit", "Angel Dust", "Johannesburg", and "Whitey On The Moon".
He was often called "The Godfather Of Rap" and "The Black Bob Dylan", although the latter was not a fair title. He was an original artist in his own right, and has been credited as an influence on future rap and hip-hop artists.
In 1985, Dylan and Scott-Heron both participated in the Artists United Against Apartheid "Sun City" single, although they may not have contributed at the same time.
The record was produced by Arthur Baker and Steve Van Zant. Other artists participating included Bruce Springsteen, Clarence Clemons, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, Bonnie Raitt, Hall & Oates, Jimmy Cliff, Big Youth, Michael Monroe, Stiv Bators, Peter Garrett, Ron Carter, Ray Barretto, Nona Hendryx, Pat Benatar, Joey Ramone. Kool DJ Herc, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Ruben Blades, Herbie Hancock, Ringo Starr, Zak Starkey, Lou Reed, Run DMC, Peter Gabriel, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Darlene Love, Bobby Womack, Afrika Bambaataa, Kurtis Blow, Jackson Browne, Darryl Hannah, Peter Wolf, George Clinton, and Bono Vox.
Scott-Heron also successfully campaigned, along with Bob Marley and Stevie Wonder, for the civil rights leader Martin Luther King to be recognised with a public holiday in the US.
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