Comments on: GIL SCOTT-HERON / “Beginnings”

By: Victor

Victor — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 16:52:12 +0000

I was at Lincoln U. with Gil, Brian, and Victor before I dropped out, got drafted and sent to Vietnam. Every brother I knew there from NY and NJ ended up with narcotics problems (anybody remember Sly from Harlem?). No telling what we could have achieved if not for them. I will never forget any of them.

By: Khpra Senwosret

Khpra Senwosret — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:35:52 +0000

I simply want to say all the comments on Gil-Scott heron well excellent, I am 27years into listening to the most profound artist we have ejected out of our cultural womb,whether live or on wax or cd or dvd or vhs Gil Scott Heron said it with passion and love and a militant conviction rivaled by only Malcolm X, I don’t mourn him because he is still with us but I do mourn the oppurtunity to save him Gil-Scott has failed in his personal life because we have failed in the struggle. Until we create and produce the great works as a people that he sings about and our fallen leaders have died for we too are strung out. In his own words Peace go with you brother.

By: David Eubanks

David Eubanks — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 20:46:12 +0000

I’m seventeen and was introduced to Gil Scott Heron’s music by my fateher at a even younger age. He provides, and creates music that can’t be rivaled by today’s artist. Scott Heron’s words have led me to many conclusions about life through song’s like ” The Other Side “, and inspiration through “Don’t give up”. Scott Heron will always be a Hero of mine despite his personal issues.

By: St.Clair Bourne

St.Clair Bourne — Mon, 15 May 2006 04:21:11 +0000

Gil Scott-Heron is a musical griot who has captured the ups and downs of contemporary struggle better than almost anyone else. His music brings a surge of energy and thoughtfulness in me, whether he’s singing ballads or up-tempo songs.

By: ninj4h

ninj4h — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 13:12:32 +0000

If there were a recording with Donny Hathaway and Gil… wouldnt that be something..

By: Eddie Wright

Eddie Wright — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 20:59:14 +0000

I love Gil-Scott Heron despite it all. He is a real soldier…

By: Adam Spangler

Adam Spangler — Sun, 15 Jan 2006 23:17:39 +0000

just wanted to say you don’t have to be over 35 for Gil’s music to bring a tear. At 27, i’ve been holding back and letting forth for years (I found Gil peeking back from the jazz racks when i was 19), through 4 shows, news of arrests, paroles, etc, etc. His is a story of life: joy and pain and back again through the circle of life.

By: Malcolm

Malcolm — Sat, 14 Jan 2006 21:49:02 +0000

My apologies for inadvertently omitting Kalamu. Thanks to Kalamu and Mtume for starting and recognizing the omportance of Gil.

Peace,
Malcolm

By: Malcolm

Malcolm — Sat, 14 Jan 2006 21:35:22 +0000

I would like to give props to the following people : Mtume, R.H., Max, Mark, Qawi, Youngblood, Jason, Patrick, Stephanie and Ken. Each of you, in your words have expressed the embodiment of my thoughts on Gil. It is those thoughts which compelled me (unknowlingly to you) to create my web site and discussion group. I believe in the adage, “if each one reach one, then each one teach one.” Gil and Brian have certainly reached me and my intent is to reach another.

Peace,
Malcolm

By: Ken

Ken — Sun, 08 Jan 2006 04:44:59 +0000

From what I’ve read and heard about substance abuse, at core, addicts use in order to mask–or obliterate–pain; the fact that they destroy themselves in the process is a by-product. Anyone as clear on and sensitive to what it means to be black in America as Gil is surely has pain in abundance. Also, much literature on addiction emphasizes the notion that certain people have a greater genetic/physiological predisposition towards addiction than others. Assuredly, except for the complete, lifetime teetotaler, as “Youngblood riffed earlier, “there, but for the grace of God, go I.”

Gil’s “other” problem is his brand of musicianship. Even many of us who thrill to his music still recognize him as a writer–poet, essayist, rapper–first; there really is no comparison in pop music (Marvin Gaye? Curtis Mayfield, ‘70’s Stevie Wonder?). And his acid critiques of America stand out foremost in our minds. As a lyricist and polemicist, Gil’s deeds vs. words are continually scrutinized.
But in his art–these lovely ballads just make it plain–, even when he lambasts (sp) all things (white) American , I believe, at root, he is telling us about us: our beauty, our strength, our perseverance, all in the face of the tremendous obstacles before us.

I can’t temper my affection for Gil or his work, despite his personal failings, anymore than I could for Marvin, or Ray Charles, Miles, Coltrane, Monk, Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins or Wayne Shorter, all of whom, to varying degrees, struggled with substance abuse of some type during the course of their lives–the ugliness of this demon, despite the unwavering truth and beauty of their art.

Gil has paid a heavy price to be who he is. He has had to have labored under considerable financial strain his entire career. Anyone who can make memorable music with alcoholism (“The Bottle”), nuclear mishaps (“Shut ‘Em Down”) and reparations (“Who Will Pay Reparations on My Soul?”) as topics surely could have made some money via the cross-over, or writing for other artists.
The fact that Gil didn’t do this endears him to us.

I think we suffer with Gil–in pity for him, in anger toward him for his self-abuse–precisely because we need his type of anger and eloquence– and him– so very much.