New York – Gil Scott-Heron, the poet, musician and author known as the "godfather of rap," died Friday at a New York City hospital.
The 62-year-old, who was best known for the 1974 compilation album, "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," passed away after getting sick upon returning from Europe, CBS News reported.
Scott-Heron's UK book publisher, Jamie Byng, made the announcement of his death on Twitter and it was later confirmed by a publicist and friend.
Born in Chicago in 1949 and raised in Jackson, Tenn., Scott-Heron recorded more than a dozen albums and wrote several books.
His spoken word pieces of the 1970s are considered to have influenced what would later become the genres of hip-hop and neo-soul.
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