It looks like we don't have any Biography for Sun Ra Arkestra yet. "People say I'm Herman Blount, but I don't know him," Mark Jacobson quoted in Esquire. By the mid-1940s he was living in Chicago and scoring music for nightclub floor shows. He was highly regarded for his atonal solos on synthesizer, an instrument that he virtually pioneered in jazz. He passed away on, may 30, 1993 in Birmingham. Sun Ra & the Year 2000 Myth Science Arkestra Sun Ra Arkestra Sun Ra Omniverse Arkestra Sun Ra Quartet. Ra graduated from Parker High School. Ra, the Sun God. In 2000, Szwed published a study of Sun Ra, Space is the Place: The Lives and Times of Sun Ra. Corrections? He is a 1979 inductee of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. Gilmore led the Arkestra on dates when Ra was too ill to perform. 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. This website uses javascript to show most of the elements. According to John Szwed's biography, Alton Abraham helped him obtain the gig. Jazz musician. Sun Ra Biography by Scott Yanow + Follow Artist. The Arkestra, which included dancers, dressed in fantastical costumes inspired by ancient Egyptian attire and the space age, and Sun Ra conducted while wearing flowing robes and futuristic helmets. 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. Genres: Avant-Garde Jazz, Free Jazz, Post-Bop. In 1972, Sun Ra recorded an album called Space Is the Place, as well as an experimental science fiction movie of the same name. Presumably due to Sun Ra ’ s own purposeful lack of clarity, little else is known about his early childhood. Their concerts alternated free improvisations and mystical group chants with eccentric versions of swing tunes, sounding like a spaced-out Fletcher Henderson orchestra. 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 Works better in Chrome or Firefox browsers. Born on 22nd May 1914 as Herman Poole Blount, in Birmingham, Alabama, he was nicknamed "Sonny" from his youth. Responsible for the existence of all creation, he stays aboard his divine vessel and fights the demonic creature Apophis night after night to ensure that the world is never destroyed by chaos. Amun Ra simply means: Hidden Light (Amun = Hidden/ Ra = Light) Recent research findings show us that Amun (Amen or Amon) is a modern god, within the ambits of Egyptian mythology. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lanquidity is a studio album by American jazz musician Sun Ra originally released in 1978 by Philly Jazz (with a shiny silver cover) and reissued on HDCD by Evidence Records in 2000 (with a light grey cover). 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. Selected discography. Presumably due to Sun Ra's own purposeful lack of clarity, little else is known about his early childhood. Among his free jazz recordings, The Magic City (1965/66) is the most significant. Sun Ra (May 22, 1914 to May 30, 1993) was an innovative and individual jazz composer, bandleader and piano and synthesizer player, who came to be known as much for preaching his bizarre cosmic philosophy as for his phenomenal musical compositions and performances. 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 … 1 & 2, ESP, 1965 Space is the Place, Evidence, 1972 Purple Night, A&M, 1989 The sun is the giver of life, controlling the ripening of crops which were worked by man. Works better in Chrome or Firefox browsers. The film, directed by John Coney, was released in 1974, and is often cited as a seminal work of Afrofuturism. The name Re was from Upper Egypt and the name Amun came from Lower Egypt. Space was the Place when eye was growing up. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sun-Ra, National Endowment for the Arts - Biography of Sun Ra, Encyclopedia of Alabama - Biography of Herman Blount. 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). The album, led by the 21-minute title track, was released in 1973, and endures as one of his most popular and influential works. 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. Presumably due to Sun Ra's own purposeful lack of clarity, little else is known about his early childhood. Sun Ra, Paul Bley Allen is best known for his work with Sun Ra , having recorded and performed mostly in this context since the late 1950s, and having led Sun Ra's Arkestra since 1993. He showed that, with imagination, commitment and a love of beauty, one can create one’s own future and make the impossible real. Find Sun Ra Arkestra bio, music, credits, awards, & streaming links on AllMusic There were also very bright and attractive illustrations everywhere. 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. Sun Ra was one of the most unusual musicians in the history of jazz, moving from Fletcher Henderson swing to free jazz with ease, sometimes in the same song. The Sun Ra discography is one of the largest discographies in music history. He attended the Alabama University, then still an agricultural college. As he grew in his own vision, Sun Ra went so far as to claim he had come from Saturn. Discipline No. However, I didn't really understand the plot of the story very well. Just click the "Edit page" button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the Biography submission guide. Sun Ra was born Herman (Sonny) Blount in 1914, in Birmingham, Alabama. Saturn's contribution to jazz, the unpeggably eclectic bandleader advanced the genre into the space age, planting the seeds for Afrofuturism. On October 20, 1952 he legally changed his name into Le Sony'r Ra. Under his direction, big band and swing are played to perfection and beyond. 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. 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. At birth, he was named Herman Poole Blount.Ra changed his name severally before sticking to Sun Ra. 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. U.K. label Strut also released a few notable compilations, including In the Orbit of Ra (presented by Allen) and To Those of Earth... and Other Worlds (mixed by Gilles Peterson), as well as a more extensive compendium of his singles. Being from another planet, he was naturally intrigued by everything earthly — especially music, because music is the one thing on Earth most like the stars. Posthumous albums of live material have appeared on labels such as DIW, Leo Records, and Kindred Spirits. Sun Ra discography and songs: Music profile for Sun Ra, born 22 May 1914. Ra’s name came from Re and Amun. 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, … He showed that, with imagination, commitment and a love of beauty, one can create one’s own future and make the impossible real. He was also the predominant creator god in ancient Egyptian religion. A documentary film, Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise, directed by Robert Muge, was released in 1980. The right eye of Ra represented the Sun; while the left eye of Ra represented the moon. Sources. Ra was the god of the sun and light, who traveled across the sky every day in a burning boat. 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. Sun Ra Family, Childhood, Life Achievements, Facts, Wiki and Bio of 2017. The sun played a very important role in ancient Egyptian life. 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. He was known for his experimental music.For much of his career, Ra led "The Arkestra", an ensemble with an ever-changing name and flexible line-up. 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 this sense, composition is necessarily distinct from improvisation.…. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 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. Musical composition, the act of conceiving a piece of music, the art of creating music, or the finished product. My love of STAR WARS stems from the influence Sun-Ra had on my family. Sun Ra Net Worth is $13 Million Mini Biography. Sun Ra death: May 30, 1993; Birmingham, Alabama. 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. Highlighting Sun Ra’s peculiar claim of origin is a wonderful way to capture the openhearted weirdness of the musically precocious Herman P. Blount… Mr. Raschka’s messy, moody, exuberant watercolors look like Sun Ra’s music transformed into paint—a gloriously cacophonous unity of … 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. 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. Over thousands of years the name Amun-Re evolved into Amun-Ra and then just to Ra. I found that this book was very long for a picture book. The label released a double-CD collection of his limited single releases in 1996. He was nicknamed "Sonny" from his childhood, had an older sister and half-brother, and was doted upon by his mother and grandmother. Sun Ra Biography (Wikipedia) Le Sony'r Ra (born Herman Poole Blount, May 22, 1914 – May 30, 1993), better known as Sun Ra, was an American jazz … 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. Born Herman "Sonny" Blount in Birmingham, Alabama, he abandoned his birth name … Related Blog Posts. Sun Ra’s music became increasingly exotic with the addition of African and Latin-American instruments. This website uses javascript to show most of the elements. Updates? Born May 22, 1914 in Birmingham, Alabama, as Herman Poole "Sonny" Blount. He also was a pioneer of modal jazz settings; among his early works, “Ancient Aiethopia” most successfully unites the diverse strands of his composing. Because of the life giving qualities of the sun the Egyptians worshiped the sun as a god. Born Herman "Sonny" Blount in Birmingham, Alabama, he abandoned his birth name … In 1946–47 he was apprenticed to swing bandleader-arranger Fletcher Henderson. 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. 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. 1. The Sun Ra discography is one of the largest discographies in music history. 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. Many of Ra's most important sidemen were with him on and off for decades (most notably John Gilmore on tenor, altoist Marshall Allen, and baritonist Pat Patrick). Periodicals. Saturn's contribution to jazz, the unpeggably eclectic bandleader advanced the genre into the space age, planting the seeds for Afrofuturism. In 2003, he published a Miles Davis biography, So What: The Life of Miles Davis. A documentary film, Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise, directed by Robert Muge, was released in 1980. Bandleader, composer, arranger, keyboard player, poet, philosopher, and cosmonaut Sun Ra advanced jazz into the space age. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Home in internet of the Sun Ra Arkestra ... El Ra Records . Related Posts. As he grew in his own vision, Sun Ra went so far as to claim he had come from Saturn. Ra is the Egyptian god of the Sun. Sun Ra was born on May 22, 1914 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA as Herman Poole Blount. He showed that, with imagination, commitment and a love of beauty, one can create one’s own future and make the impossible real. Paying no mind to legalities, the Union local identified him as Herman Blount—we figure this was the name that was on the contract. Ra was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone in 1969. He was the most powerful and most worshiped of all Egyptian gods. From Blount, he became Le Sony's Ra, Sonny Blount and stuck to Sun Ra. Sun Ra was created on, may 22, 1914 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA while Herman Poole Blount. Born: May 22, 1914 Birmingham, Alabama Pianist, Poet, Songwriter, Singer. Critic Jason Ankeny [2] describes Marshall as "one of the most distinctive and original saxophonists of the postwar era." He was born Herman Blount on May 22, 1914, in Birmingham, Alabama, as discovered by his biographer, John F. Szwed, and published in his 1998 book. The two gods were combined into one, Amun-Ra, in the time of the New Kingdom, between the 16th and 11th centuries BCE. Died May 30, 1993, also in Birmingham, Alabama. His mother named him Herman, after a famous stage magician in Birmingham. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Omissions? Sun Ra. 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. Submit Corrections. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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 … Releases on Y Records, including the infamous Nuclear War (1982), exposed Sun Ra's work to post-punk/indie audiences. After moving to New York in 1961, Ra performed some of his most advanced work. 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. According to John Szwed’s seminal biography of Sun Ra, “Space is the Place,” “Abraham was philosophical by nature, serious and scholarly, with a deep interest in science, metaphysics, and Bible scholarship.” He clicked with Sun Ra—who at the time was still going by the name Sonny—and the two quickly became inseparable. Sun Ra (May 22, 1914 to May 30, 1993) was an innovative and individual jazz composer, bandleader and piano and synthesizer player, who came to be known as much for preaching his bizarre cosmic philosophy as for his phenomenal musical compositions and performances. If you don't see the contents properly, try to activate javascript. 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