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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 bandleader known for his innovative contributions to music. He displayed musical talent from a young age, being able to sight-read and compose music by the age of 11. In 1934, he took the lead of a band, the Sonny Blount Orchestra, after his biology teacher organized it to pursue a singing career. In 1936, after a transformative visionary experience during meditation, Blount left college and dedicated himself to music and esoteric discussions, transforming his family's home into a conservatory-workshop. He moved to Chicago in 1945, adopting the name Le Sony'r Ra in 1952, later shortened to Sun Ra, inspired by the Egyptian god of the Sun. He formed the nucleus of what would become the Arkestra, collaborating with various musicians, including drummer and saxophonists. In the mid-1950s, Sun Ra and his band began to adopt distinctive Egyptian-styled and science fiction-themed costumes, establishing an "Afrofuturistic" aesthetic. The group moved to New York City in 1961, where they lived communally to save money and gained popularity among the beat generation and early psychedelia. In 1968, they relocated to Germantown, Philadelphia, which became their base until Sun Ra's death. During his career, Sun

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