He was so … Jazz musician. Sun Ra, “one of the strangest artists that America has ever produced” was once on the cover of Rolling Stone, shared bills with the MC5, performed on Saturday Night Live, influenced everyone from Kenneth Anger to Pink Floyd and dreamed of the day that he could … Later concerts and recordings by Ra incorporated swing standards and even tunes from Disney movies, but maintained a heavy degree of improvisation, and remained highly unpredictable. But Szwed’s biography of Sun Ra is gorgeous, indispensable and a riot to read. Submit Corrections. He also was a pioneer of modal jazz settings; among his early works, “Ancient Aiethopia” most successfully unites the diverse strands of his composing. Earthlings themselves confused Sun Ra, the way they sorted themselves by color and fought wars against one another. Herman Blount (1914-1993), who later became known as Sun Ra, was a Birmingham native and visionary musician whose jazz styling and personal mythology left a lasting impression on modern music. According to John Szwed's biography, Alton Abraham helped him obtain the gig. Amun-Ra’s boat traveled across the sky by … Sun Ra was one of the great modern visionaries: he not only had a dream, but lived it to the full for over 40 years. Benjamin Boone: The Poets Are Gathering As he grew in his own vision, Sun Ra went so far as to claim he had come from Saturn. He passed away on, may 30, 1993 in Birmingham. Gilmore led the Arkestra on dates when Ra was too ill to perform. His eccentric persona, experimentation with electronic music and free jazz, and the often unusual make-up of his performances left indelible marks on the world of jazz. Presumably due to Sun Ra ’ s own purposeful lack of clarity, little else is known about his early childhood. He showed that, with imagination, commitment and a love of beauty, one can create one’s own future and make the impossible real. Related Posts. Jazz keyboardist, bandleader and composer Sun Ra recorded dozens of singles and over one hundred full-length albums, comprising well over 1000 songs, and making him one of the … While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Ra's surrealist sci-fi epic Space Is the Place, preceded by an unrelated album of the same title, was released in 1974, subsequently becoming a major cult classic film. Sun Ra, byname of Le Sony’r Ra, original name Herman Blount,byname Sonny, (born May 22, 1914, Birmingham, Ala., U.S.—died May 30, 1993, Birmingham), American jazz composer and keyboard player who led a free jazz big band known for its innovative instrumentation and the theatricality of … Home in internet of the Sun Ra Arkestra ... El Ra Records . Biography After Sun Ra's death in 1993, longtime band member John Gilmore took over duties leading the ghost band in creating music and touring. Reissue Desires [2014 Expanded Edition] Sun Ra Biography by Scott Yanow + Follow Artist. Presumably due to Sun Ra's own purposeful lack of clarity, little else is known about his early childhood. Critic Jason Ankeny [2] describes Marshall as "one of the most distinctive and original saxophonists of the postwar era." From Blount, he became Le Sony's Ra, Sonny Blount and stuck to Sun Ra. Presumably due to Sun Ra's own purposeful lack of clarity, little else is known about his early childhood. Sun Ra death: May 30, 1993; Birmingham, Alabama. Sun Ra was one of the great modern visionaries: he not only had a dream, but lived it to the full for over 40 years. The Arkestra has continued to perform since Ra's passing in 1993, and he remains a crucial influence on all forms of creative, forward-thinking music. Or, if you prefer a more straightforward approach to your musical biographies, Sun Ra was born Herman P. Blount in Birmingham, Alabama in 1914. Posthumous albums of live material have appeared on labels such as DIW, Leo Records, and Kindred Spirits. During the 1970s and ’80s Sun Ra’s Arkestra made increasing use of earlier compositions of his own and of composers such as Henderson, Duke Ellington, and Thelonious Monk. Born on 22nd May 1914 as Herman Poole Blount, in Birmingham, Alabama, he was nicknamed "Sonny" from his youth. With the various incarnations of his inimitable Arkestra, his repertoire ranged from boogie-woogie to … The sun played a very important role in ancient Egyptian life. Sun Ra & the Year 2000 Myth Science Arkestra, The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vol. Earthlings themselves confused Sun Ra, the way they sorted themselves by Leading a big band (which he called the Arkestra) in Chicago, Ra started off playing advanced bop, but early on was open to the influences of other cultures, experimenting with primitive electric keyboards, and playing free long before the avant-garde got established. Ra has been well served by Evidence's extensive repackaging of many of his Saturn dates, which have at last been outfitted with correct dates and personnel details. The Cosmo Biography of Sun Ra Chris Raschka, author and illustrator Candlewick Press 99 Dover St., Somerville, MA 02144 9780763658069, $15.99, www.amazon.com Born Herman "Sonny" Blount in Birmingham, Alabama, he abandoned his birth name … Le Sony'r Ra, better known as Sun Ra, was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific output, and theatrical performances. Updates? Just click the "Edit page" button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the Biography submission guide. The sun is the giver of life, controlling the ripening of crops which were worked by man. 1 & 2, ESP, 1965 Space is the Place, Evidence, 1972 Purple Night, A&M, 1989 His mystic nature started from his naming. When Upper and Lower Egypt came together they changed the name to Amun-Re. Ra is also closely associated with the Tree of Life myth, the Ben-Ben Stone and the Bennu Bird myths. Works better in Chrome or Firefox browsers. Sun Ra (1914– 1993) was an innovative jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesiser player, who came to be known as much for his Cosmic Afro-futurist Philosophy as for his phenomenal musical compositions and performances. Jazz musician Sun Ra (1914–1993) always said that he came from Saturn. Sun Ra discography and songs: Music profile for Sun Ra, born 22 May 1914. Selected discography. Genres: Avant-Garde Jazz, Free Jazz, Post-Bop. Paying no mind to legalities, the Union local identified him as Herman Blount—we figure this was the name that was on the contract. After Gilmore's passing, the torch was passed to Marshall Allen, who still leads it as of this writing. Read Full Biography. The ensemble began performing in Europe in 1970, and they traveled to Egypt for the first time in 1971. As he grew in his own vision, Sun Ra went so far as to claim he had come from Saturn. Following several singles, including songs recorded with doo wop and R&B vocal groups such as the Qualities and the Cosmic Rays, early albums released by the Arkestra on El Saturn Records included Super-Sonic Jazz and Jazz in Silhouette. Ra became a fixture of Philadelphia radio stations and regularly gave lectures. Complete Sun Ra 2017 Biography. By the mid-1940s he was living in Chicago and scoring music for nightclub floor shows. The Arkestra recorded an original soundtrack for the film (unrelated to the Space Is the Place album), and it was eventually released on CD in the '90s. It was responsible for life, light, and warmth. Le Sony'r Ra, better known as Sun Ra, was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific output, and theatrical performances. A documentary film, Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise, directed by Robert Muge, was released in 1980. There were also very bright and attractive illustrations everywhere. Ra was thought to be the god of the sun and creation. Article: Reclaiming Sun Ra's Legacy (2017) Interview: Irwin Chusid on his Sun Ra work (2014) Rodger Coleman's Complete Sun Ra Sundays (2008–2015) Sun Ra Arkive magazine 2002–2003: issue 1, … Ra's music encompassed nearly every style of jazz, with roots in ragtime and swing to bebop and avant-garde jazz. Ra is the Egyptian god of the Sun. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. While Ra's music, mythology, and appearance went over the heads of many listeners and audience members, he was praised by jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk. Sun Ra, who claimed to have been born on the planet Saturn, grew up in Birmingham, studied piano under noted teacher Fess Wheatley, and attended Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical College (now University). Born Herman Sonny Blount in Birmingham, Alabama (although he claimed he was from Saturn), Ra led his own band for the first time in 1934. 1 Biography 2 Gods of Egypt (2016) 3 Powers and Abilities 4 Items Among the first and oldest gods, Ra has existed for eternity. Over thousands of years the name Amun-Re evolved into Amun-Ra and then just to Ra. Releases on Y Records, including the infamous Nuclear War (1982), exposed Sun Ra's work to post-punk/indie audiences. He attended the Alabama University, then still an agricultural college. A documentary film, Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise, directed by Robert Muge, was released in 1980. Ra was the god of the sun and light, who traveled across the sky every day in a burning boat. American free-jazz composer, pianist and band leader. Under his direction, big band and swing are played to perfection and beyond. Sun Ra and his band performed several genres of music. "People say I'm Herman Blount, but I don't know him," Mark Jacobson quoted in Esquire. Since 1954, Marshall Allen has been the ferocious core of the Arkestra. In 2003, he published a Miles Davis biography, So What: The Life of Miles Davis. Szwed wrote Doctor Jazz, a booklet about Jelly Roll Morton for the 2005 issue of The Complete Library of Congress Recordings by Alan Lomax on Rounder Records. Jazz musician Sun Ra (1914–1993) always said that he came from Saturn. Their concerts alternated free improvisations and mystical group chants with eccentric versions of swing tunes, sounding like a spaced-out Fletcher Henderson orchestra. After moving to New York in 1961, Ra performed some of his most advanced work. Biography. Because of the life giving qualities of the sun the Egyptians worshiped the sun as a god. Died May 30, 1993, also in Birmingham, Alabama. Initially active as a blues pianist, he worked with swing musicians such as Coleman Hawkins during the 1940s, then established his own trajectory during the '50s, when he founded the ever-changing ensemble known as the Arkestra. Ra’s glory came to an end during the time when the Roman’s conquered Egypt in 30BC. He died on May 30, 1993 in Birmingham. Sun Ra was born on May 22, 1914 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA as Herman Poole Blount. He was also the predominant creator god in ancient Egyptian religion. Jazz keyboardist, bandleader and composer Sun Ra recorded dozens of singles and over one hundred full-length albums, comprising well over 1000 songs, and making him one of the … He took up the tenor saxophone while serving in the United States Air Force from 1948 to 1952, then pursued a musical career, playing briefly with pianist Earl Hines before encountering Sun Ra in 1953.. For the next four decades, Gilmore recorded and performed almost exclusively with Sun Ra. In 2000, Szwed published a study of Sun Ra, Space is the Place: The Lives and Times of Sun Ra. Herman Blount (1914-1993), who later became known as Sun Ra, was a Birmingham native and visionary musician whose jazz styling and personal mythology left a lasting impression on modern music. Through his elaborate concerts, films, and countless recordings, he fused imagery and mythology related to ancient Egypt as well as science fiction, planting the seeds for what would eventually be referred to as Afrofuturism. 1 (1965) and Atlantis (1969), groundbreaking in their shifting away from conventional melody and harmony, as well as their usage of synthesizers and electronic keyboards. Synopsis This biography is as much about Sun Ra's music as it is about his passionate, often wildly unorthodox views on the galaxy, black people and spiritual matters. This website uses javascript to show most of the elements. The sun, and therefore Ra, represented life, warmth, and growth to ancient Egyptians. He freelanced at a variety of jobs in the Midwest, recording with blues singer Wynonie Harris in 1946 and working as a pianist/arranger with Fletcher Henderson in 1946 and 1947. In 1972, Sun Ra recorded an album called Space Is the Place, as well as an experimental science fiction movie of the same name. Since Sun Ra's death, the Arkestra has continued to perform under the direction of Allen. Born May 22, 1914 in Birmingham, Alabama, as Herman Poole "Sonny" Blount. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. In 1966, the Arkestra had a weekly Monday night gig at Slug's Saloon, a jazz club in the Lower East Side in Manhattan, which greatly increased his fan base among beatniks and music critics. The Sun Ra discography is one of the largest discographies in music history. Read Full Biography. Among his free jazz recordings, The Magic City (1965/66) is the most significant. Born: May 22, 1914 Birmingham, Alabama Pianist, Poet, Songwriter, Singer. I regret not having talked to you then, since I loved the book, but I guess I figured Sun Ra was too beyond the comfort zone of readers to do more than a review of the book. The name Re was from Upper Egypt and the name Amun came from Lower Egypt. Sun Ra was born Herman (Sonny) Blount in 1914, in Birmingham, Alabama. Musical composition, the act of conceiving a piece of music, the art of creating music, or the finished product. During the 1960s, the Arkestra released landmark albums such as The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vol. I found that this book was very long for a picture book. Sun Ra & the Year 2000 Myth Science Arkestra Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra Omniverse Arkestra Sun Ra Quartet. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama. Jazz keyboardist, bandleader and composer Sun Ra recorded dozens of singles and over one hundred full-length albums, comprising well over 1000 songs, and making him one of the … For the Record …. It looks like we don't have any Biography for Sun Ra Arkestra yet. 1. The Sun Ra Arkestra is the name most commonly used for the current incarnation of Sun Ra's original band, now led by Marshall Allen. Benjamin Boone: The Poets Are Gathering His mother named him Herman, after a famous stage magician in Birmingham. Corrections? He showed that, with imagination, commitment and a love of beauty, one can create one’s own future and make the impossible real. Sun Ra's musical career is hard to generalize about. Discipline No. Historians also believe that the famous Sun temple as the capital of Thebes was recorded only during the period of … The creator of the universe and the giver of life, the sun or Ra represented life, warmth and growth. 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