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**Sun Ra** Born Herman Poole Blount on May 22, 1914, in Birmingham, Alabama, Sun Ra was an American free-jazz composer, pianist, and band leader. He showcased his musical talent from a young age, being able to sight-read and compose music by the age of 11. After a brief stint in college, he had a transformative visionary experience in 1936, which led him to pursue a mission of preaching peace through music. In 1945, he moved to Chicago, where he adopted the name Le Sony'r Ra, later shortened to Sun Ra, inspired by the Egyptian god of the Sun. He formed the first nucleus of the Sun Ra Arkestra in 1952 and began to develop an avant-garde style characterized by outlandish costumes and an Afrofuturistic aesthetic. Sun Ra's band gained popularity in the 1960s, performing regularly in New York City and receiving acclaim from critics and peers. In 1968, they relocated to Germantown, Philadelphia, which became their base of operations. Sun Ra continued to tour and record internationally throughout the 1970s and 1980s, solidifying his status as a musical innovator. Despite suffering a stroke in 1990, Sun Ra remained active until late 1992 when he returned to Birmingham to live with his sister. He passed away on May 30, 1993, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering figure

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