Picking up the pieces of a man. New biography of Gil Scott-Heron

The first biography of singer Gil Scott-Heron is published next week. 

A celebrated fore-runner to the hip-hop genre Scott-Heron is best known for his 1970 musical statement “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” he was renowned for his politicised, social commentary steeped in jazz, blues and soul that impacted on an America coming to terms with social the turmoil and civil rights movement of the 1960s. 

Sometimes referred to as the “black Bob Dylan”, which he hated, he maintained a cult following with long time musical partner Brian Jackson throughout the seventies and eighties whilst tormented by personal demons that created many of his powerful lyrics. He died in 2011.

Written by an acquaintance, Marcus Baram the book aggregates the life events of a troubled musical genius from his native Chicago to Tennessee to New York where he died. Baram gained unprecedented, exclusive access to Scott-Heron, his friends, collaborators and his entire family.