Spotify Sunday: Some Pieces of a Man

Gil Scott-Heron was one of those rare artists who defies category; poet, novelist, jazz musician, criminal and revolutionary could describe various phases of his life and career. Having stepped into the spotlight in 1970 with his percussion-heavy debut LP Small Talk at 125th & Lenox, Gil toured, wrote, recorded and smoked his way through four decades in the business while rarely treating it like a business. At one point, he even wrote a poem as an apology for not showing up to a meeting with execs at TVT records.

I’m sad to admit I was less surprised to hear of his demise than I was of his new album with Richard XL last year but, if nothing else, that should tell you something about his troubled yet remarkable life. I hope the following playlist will offer an overview of both his diverse career and his influence; the music of his fellow artists tells us as much about Gil Scott-Heron’s legacy as his own work.