Quotes by Gil Scott-Heron

About Gil Scott-Heron:

Gilbert is concerned with the origin of the blues." His music, most notably on Pieces of a Man and Winter in America in the early 1970s, influenced and helped engender later African-American music genres such as hip hop and neo soul.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

I thought that some of my best records was when there wasn't a lot of work being done on it, like 'Winter in America' and 'Secrets' and when there weren't a whole lot of people in the studios.

Gil Scott-Heron

I have a novel that I can write. It's about three soldiers from Somalia. Some babies have been disappearing up on 144th Street, and I speculate later on what happened to them and how they might have been got back. These guys are dead, all three, and ...

Gil Scott-Heron

Womenfolk raised me, and I was full-grown before I knew I came from a broken home.

Gil Scott-Heron

Your life has to consist of more than 'Black people should unite.' You hope they do, but not twenty-four hours a day.

Gil Scott-Heron

As for money - when I have it, it's great. When I don't, I go get some. I've been a dishwasher, a gardener, a cleaner.

Gil Scott-Heron

Music has the power to make me feel good like nothing else does. It gives me some peace for a while. Takes me back to who I really am.

Gil Scott-Heron

I was a better writer when I was teaching. I was constantly going over the basics and constantly reminding myself, as I reminded my students, what made a good story, a good poem.

Gil Scott-Heron

I tour more than I need to, more than is good for you. But it's my favorite part of music. I much prefer it to studio work.

Gil Scott-Heron

You know what has made me the happiest I've ever been? Seeing my son and daughter graduate from college. More than wanting them to be educated, I wanted them to be nice people. To see that they have become both is just a wonderful thing.

Gil Scott-Heron

You have to learn and keep learning.

Gil Scott-Heron

I am honestly not sure how capable I am of love. And I'm not sure why.

Gil Scott-Heron

Colour is not the issue in America; class is.

Gil Scott-Heron

Every show that sells out is like a hero's welcome for me.

Gil Scott-Heron

If you aren't having no fun, die, because you're running a worthless program, far as I'm concerned.

Gil Scott-Heron

Our accomplishments show what kind of people we are.

Gil Scott-Heron

The way you get to know yourself is by the expressions on other people's faces, because that's the only thing that you can see, unless you carry a mirror about.

Gil Scott-Heron

If someone comes to you and asks for help, and you can help them, you're supposed to help them. Why wouldn't you? You have been put in the position somehow to be able to help this person.

Gil Scott-Heron

If you're supposed to be doing something, the spirits will come and help you. They have helped me out with lines I shouldn't have known, chords I shouldn't have known. Every once in a while I get lines from somewhere, and I think, I better write this...

Gil Scott-Heron

I was a piano player before I was a poet.

Gil Scott-Heron

The revolution that takes place in your head, nobody will ever see that.

Gil Scott-Heron

Author Bio

  • NameGil Scott-Heron
  • DescriptionAmerican musician, poet and author
  • AliasesGlibert Scott-Heron; Gil Scott Heron
  • BornApril 1, 1949
  • DiedMay 27, 2011
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionSinger; Author
  • AwardsGrammy Lifetime Achievement Award