Legend Gil Scott Heron Dies

"Godfather of Rap" Gil Scott-Heron, who in 1970 mixed poetry and music for his militant song "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," died Friday (5/28/2011) afternoon in a New York hospital, his publicist told CNN.



He was 62, and the cause of death was not immediately stated. Scott-Heron was known to be HIV positive and had struggled with drug addiction throughout a large part of his life.


Chicago-born, the iconoclast was named after his father, Gilbert Heron, a Jamaican football (soccer) player who had settled in America and was signed by Glasgow's Celtic FC, earning the nickname "The Black Arrow."



"The Revolution" was released when he was only 18, and within five years he had also recorded three albums and published two novels and a book of poetry. Among his other nicknames was "The People's Poet."