The Last Holiday: A Memoir

Always wanted to read his book

The book is a must read for all Gil Scott Heron fans, activists, musicians and those who struggle to be human. Contrary to the book's title, it is really more of a memoir of his life and career than it is one of the music tour he did with Stevie Wonder to make MLK's birthday a national holiday. Though vivid, satirical and poetic as his rap and music was, he often leaves the reader hangin in spots- Like he expresses his annoyance with having to pay $300 for a Lamaze class when his wife, Brenda is pregnant with their daughter Gia but then tells you nothing of the birth. He has the courage to disclose the perplexing encounter with his fiance, Lurma who disappeared and broke off the engagement without a word and then shows up with their son at his doorstep two years later insisting he promise not to tell anyone they have a son. He claims he ruminated about this after promising her but gives you no clue as to why he accepted this insane request or basically abandons his son Rumal til 10 years later. Although you admire the young, ambitious Gil in his support of his mother in the projects of the Bronx, his love for his proud grandmother who stood up to racists, his travels with the brothas on the road, his activist work at Lincoln U, and in his tenacious climb to creative and academic success, he neglects highlights of his work of the Jamaican Sunsplash Festival, the campaign to free Gary Tyler, the worldwide Freedom Fest in 1988 to free Mandela, and the success of demobilizing US nuke power through his work with Musicians for Safe Energy among others. With the exception of Stevie Wonder, and a bit on Brenda and Lurma, he barely touches on the impact of his relationships and the last 20 years of his life are barely mentioned including his bouts with cocaine and alcohol. Friendships growing up and in adulthood are given short shrift even for his best high school friend Fred Baron; there is no mention of his break with Brian, his relations with girlfriend, Monique in the late 90s, and his daughter, Raquiyah is not acknowledged at all. Only at the end does he seem to really get real in discussing the traumas of his stroke and death of his mother. You need to read between the lines to realize that his proclivity for touching the power of human emotion and overcoming the disunity in humanity in his music seems proportional to his difficulty managing his own emotional pain to overcome what appears to be a life long struggle against alienation that he feared to confront. As he said "I was always running". At least his latest album, I'm New Here, especially the touching song, My Cloud, suggests that near the end of his life, he may have realized that running by pushing people away was not worth it. The book also shows his shocking refusal to believe that he is a decent person up til the very end of the book and what may have tragically been for most or all of his life. Unfortunately, even our most esteemed idols can fall hard and have feet of clay. But, overall the reader will not be disappointed with his vivid and poetic memoir in which he inspires us to carry on despite hard knocks and encourages us that the wheel of life will provide opportunities if we faithfully apply ourselves to our endeavors.

Gil Scott-Heron, poet, writer, lyricist, musician, performer, academic, activist and most of all cultural icon. Thanks to his estate, another title can be added, that of memoirist. This is an exceptional work that taps into his early childhood and progresses though to the period where he experienced his greatest commercial acclaim. Since this is a memoir, not an autobiography, the reader must accept the snap shots the author provides. Readers who have more then a passing familiarity with the artist's life and work will find equal significance in what events were omitted as to those milestones that were included. There's no doubt, given his creative stature, that a biography, detailing his entire life and contributions, will be published sometime in the future. Until then, this work will serve to provide a first hand account of GSH's talent, struggles, passion and love.The first half of the book is focused on his family. He paints a marvelous portrait of his immediate relatives and his strong relationship with his mother. He reflects on the cultural influences the various geographic locations as Jackson, Tenn., Chicago and NYC had on his later life and work. He provides vivid detail of his academic life experiences associated with Fieldston Academy and Lincoln University. The challenges faced during this period, helped shape the artist he was to become. Remarkably, during this period he had already published a novel and a collected work of poetry. It's fascinating to learn of his passion for academia, which he admits was equal to his artistic commitment. He completes his graduate work at John Hopkins University and accepts an Associate Professorship position at Washington's Federal City College. This milestone occurring at the same time his music was achieving an expanded commercial appreciation.The second half of the memoir is primarily focused on the growing maturity of his artistic endeavors. His descriptions of meeting and working with the legendary Bob Thiele at Flying Dutchman Records (home to artists as Leon Thomas and Lonnie Liston Smith) and his musical partnership with Brian Jackson proved critical in enabling GSH to elevate his art to the next plateau. Next, he shares his association with Clive Davis and the Midnight band's tenure with Arista records. This period would prove to be the peak of his commercial success.Entwined throughout are brilliant antidotes of fellow artists Gill met along the way including, Bob Marley, Donna Summers, Michael Jackson and countless others. Chapter 31 is particularly illuminating with GSH discussing his meeting with Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, and the legendary authors John Alfred Williams ( " The Angry Ones " ) and John Oliver Killens ( twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize ). His observations and insights of Stevie Wonder, the artist / social activist and their 1980/81 tour are particularly insightful.At the conclusion of the memoir the reader feels better for the experience. Your humanity is a little more finely tuned and one is a little more optimistic about the future of the human race. Thanks in large part to the contribution of Gil Scott-Heron. The "Minister of Information" has fulfilled his mission." Each one reach one, each one teach one " GSH

Superb book.

I've been listening to his music for a couple years now and have become a huge fan, and so I knew I had to buy this book. The beginning half is insanely captivating, taking you through his upbringing, and major moments in his life. Then the second half gets a little weird, with him kinda bouncing all around the place.Second half was still interesting though. What's funny, and something that others have pointed out, is that he completely skims over his drug use. He literally does not mention it one bit. The downsides of this book could be attributed to the fact that he died before fully completing it. Great read nonetheless.

I am reading it for the 3rd time in less than a month. What I'm doing now is comparing Gil's autobiographical account if his life compared to Pieces of a Man, the 2014 biography. He was in total denial if his addiction and how much it hurt everyone who cared

Excellent read! I highly recommend this book!

Awesome book! Great price! Speedy delivery!