The author of the song "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" - which helped pioneer sounds that would fuse to become rap - has died in New York City. Musician Gil Scott-Heron was 62.
A friend who answered the telephone listed for his Manhattan recording company confirms he died Friday afternoon at a hospital. Doris C. Nolan says he died after becoming sick upon returning from a European trip.
Scott-Heron recorded "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" in the 1970s in Harlem.
Everything you need to know about this man is right here:
Heron's famous spoken word piece about how black Americans struggle for basic day to day survival while whites pursue lofty aspirations like space travel ...
Whitey On The Moon
by Gil Scott-Heron
A rat done bit my sister Nell. (with Whitey on the moon) Her face and arms began to swell. (and Whitey's on the moon) I can't pay no doctor bill. (but Whitey's on the moon) Ten years from now I'll be payin' still. (while Whitey's on the moon) The man jus' upped my rent las' night. ('cause Whitey's on the moon) No hot water, no toilets, no lights. (but Whitey's on the moon) I wonder why he's uppi' me? ('cause Whitey's on the moon?) I wuz already payin' 'im fifty a week. (with Whitey on the moon) Taxes takin' my whole damn check, Junkies makin' me a nervous wreck, The price of food is goin' up, An' as if all that **** wuzn't enough: A rat done bit my sister Nell. (with Whitey on the moon) Her face an' arm began to swell. (but Whitey's on the moon) Was all that money I made las' year (for Whitey on the moon?) How come there ain't no money here? (Hmm! Whitey's on the moon) Y'know I jus' 'bout had my fill (of Whitey on the moon) I think I'll sen' these doctor bills, Airmail special (to Whitey on the moon)
P.S. This year President Barack Obama pulled the plug on space travel ... one small step for Obama's budgetary math
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