Gil Scott-Heron

Gil Scott-Heron was an American musician, poet, and author. He was born on April 1, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois and raised in the Bronx, New York. He began his career as a poet and activist in the late 1960s, performing in clubs and colleges around the country. He is best known for his influence in the genres of spoken word, rap, soul, funk, and jazz.

Some of Scott-Heron's most notable albums include Pieces of a Man (1971), Winter in America (1974), The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (1974), and Reflections (1981). His songs have been sampled and covered by many hip hop and R&B artists, including Kanye West, Common, and Alicia Keys. Some of his most popular songs include "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," "Whitey on the Moon," "Home is Where the Hatred Is," and "Me and the Devil."

An interesting fact about Scott-Heron is that he was the first artist to use the phrase “the revolution will not be televised” in his song of the same name. The phrase has since become an iconic part of American culture.