Gil Scott-Heron, the poet, author and spoken-word musician who inspired rappers and revolutionaries with his thought-provoking song, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” died yesterday afternoon in a New York hospital the Huffington Post reports.

Scott-Heron, who was born April 1, 1949 in Chicago but raised in Tennessee and then The Bronx, influenced several generations and rose to fame in the 1960s and early 1970s as the poetic voice of the Black Power Movement. Not known to hold his tongue on political issues regarding African-Americans and society, Scott-Heron released many albums and books, most notably his 1973 jazz-laced recording Pieces of a Man.

Called the Godfather of Rap, Scott-Heron released his latest album “I’m New Here” last February 2010 after a 13-year recording hiatus, but was constantly sampled and featured on tracks by hip-hop and Soul artists such as Common, Kanye West, Dwele and Bilal. The icon may be gone but his legacy will live on in the phrase that became a slogan for many.

(Photo: Anna Webber/Getty Images)