The stunning memoir of Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner Gil
Scott-Heron, The Last Holiday has been praised for bringing back to
life one of the most important voices of the last fifty years. Now in
paperback, The Last Holiday provides a remarkable glimpse into
Scott-Heron's life and times, from his humble beginnings to becoming one
of the most influential artists of his generation.
The memoir climaxes with a historic concert tour in which Scott-Heron's
band opened for Stevie Wonder. The Hotter than July tour traveled
cross-country from late 1980 through early 1981, drumming up popular
support for the creation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. King's birthday,
January 15, was marked with a massive rally in Washington.
A fitting testament to the achievements of an extraordinary man, The
Last Holiday provides a moving portrait of Scott-Heron's relationship
with his mother, personal recollections of Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley,
John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Clive Davis, and other musical figures,
and a compelling narrative vehicle for Scott-Heron's insights into the
music industry, the civil rights movement, governmental hypocrisy, and
our wider place in the world. The Last Holiday confirms Scott-Heron as
a fearless truth-teller, a powerful artist, and an inspiring observer of
his times.
