Biography
Sun Ra, born Herman Poole Blount on May 22, 1914, in Birmingham, Alabama, displayed prodigious musical talent from a young age, performing his first professional gig in high school with the Sax-O-Society Orchestra and later touring with groups like the Troubadours and the Ethel Harper Band under bandleader John T. 'Fess' Whatley. After moving to Chicago in the 1940s, he worked as a sideman in various styles including boogie-woogie and bebop, making his first commercial recordings in 1946, before legally changing his name to Le Sony'r Ra in 1952 and forming the Space Trio, which evolved into the Sun Ra Arkestra known for its experimental structures, electronic instruments, and elaborate theatrical performances blending jazz, dance, poetry, and cosmic philosophy.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Sun Ra pioneered avant-garde jazz in Chicago, releasing recordings on his own Saturn Records label as one of the first self-produced jazz artists, incorporating electric pianos, synthesizers, clavioline, and extensive percussion as early as 1956. The Arkestra relocated to New York around 1960-1961, establishing a communal Sun Palace and residencies like Slug's nightclub, fully embracing free jazz with albums like The Magic City (1965/66), while drawing from ragtime to fusion and emphasizing African origins of jazz and Afrofuturism. He led big bands of up to 30 musicians, innovating with modal jazz, group improvisations, two double basses, electric bass, and polyrhythms, producing over 100 albums and 1,000 songs despite limited mainstream success.
Sun Ra's legacy endures through the Arkestra, which continues performing under Marshall Allen, influencing Afrofuturism and generations of musicians with his prolific output, mystical persona denying his earthly past, and multi-disciplinary art until his death on May 30, 1993, in Birmingham, Alabama.
Fun Facts
- Sun Ra claimed to originate from Saturn, denying ties to his birth name Herman Blount and calling all prior identities pseudonyms as part of his cosmic philosophy.
- He was one of the first jazz musicians to self-produce and sell his own albums on Saturn Records starting in the 1950s.
- The Arkestra performed with elaborate costumes, dance by 'Jupiterettes,' and Sun Ra playing up to three synthesizers simultaneously.
- He established a communal home called the Sun Palace in New York for his musicians in the 1960s.
Associated Acts
- The Sun Ra Arkestra - eponymous, original
- The Nu Sounds
- Sun Ra Trio - eponymous, original
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- John T. 'Fess' Whatley - High school bandleader and mentor who taught discipline and musicianship (Ethel Harper Band tours) [1930s]
Key Collaborators
- John Gilmore - Tenor saxophonist and longtime Arkestra member (Early Arkestra expansions from Space Trio) [1950s-1990s]
- Marshall Allen - Alto saxophonist, key Arkestra member and current leader (Numerous Arkestra albums and performances) [1950s-1993, continuing post-death]
- Fletcher Henderson - Arranger for Henderson's swing band (Swing arrangements) [1940s]
Artists Influenced
- Afrofuturism movement - Founder figure merging African American themes with futuristic narratives (Arkestra performances and philosophy) [1960s onward]
- Avant-garde jazz musicians - Pioneered free improvisation, modal jazz, electronics influencing generations (Free jazz and fusion developments) [1950s-1990s]
Connection Network
External Links
Tags: #2008-universal-fire-victim, #american, #avant-garde-jazz
References
Heard on WWOZ
SUN RA has been played 31 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.