Sun Ra: A Legacy of Jazz and Interstellar Prophesy

Sun Ra, a musical genius and intergalactic philosopher, will be celebrated in Birmingham, his hometown, with a new, multi-day festival that promises to shine a light on the life and legacy of this eccentric and influential jazz artist. Partnerships with local arts, music, and film organizations have been formed to bring the Sun Ra Festival to life, with events scheduled to take place at various venues across the city, including the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, Sidewalk Cinema, Saturn, The Nick, Seasick Records, Southern Music Research Center, and East Village Arts. Highlights of the festival will include two concerts by the Sun Ra Arkestra, a large ensemble of musicians and dancers led by Marshall Allen, who joined the group in 1958 and has been its leader since 1995. The Arkestra’s trademark costumes, inspired by ancient Egypt and alien fantasy, will add an otherworldly flair to the performances.

Definition:

Sun Ra (1914-1993) was born in Birmingham, Alabama, as Herman “Sonny” Blount. He was a prolific and influential composer, bandleader, keyboard player, and intergalactic philosopher, known for his experimental and avant-garde works.

Claimed to be from Saturn, Sun Ra preached peace, love, and awareness, and his overall aesthetic blended concepts from the Bible, science fiction, numerology, Egyptian mythology, and African culture.
Believed that music was a language that could reach people and change the world.
Created a large, ever-changing ensemble of musicians and dancers known as the Arkestra, featuring iconic costumes and performances that stretched for hours.

“Music is a language, and I’m saying things that can reach people,” Sun Ra said in a 1988 interview with The Birmingham News. “I’m not a prophet. I’m a destiny-changer. It’s all right to prophesy, but the best thing to do is change things, if you’ve got the power.”

Sun Ra’s music and message continue to inspire and influence jazz musicians, writers, and scholars around the world.
His recordings, over 200 strong, remain influential in the music world, with many artists citing Sun Ra as an inspiration.
Sun Ra has been honored in Birmingham before, with a Sun Ra Centennial Celebration in 2014 at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

Sun Ra’s Discography
Album	Release Year
“Languidity”	1978
“That’s How I Feel”	1988

The Sun Ra Festival will be held in May, with a specific date yet to be announced. The event will be a celebration of Sun Ra’s life and legacy, and will feature a range of events and activities, including concerts, movies, art shows, food, and roundtable discussions. The organizers of the festival, led by Lee Shook, a local music writer, DJ, archivist, and documentarian, aim to raise awareness about Sun Ra’s music and message, and to share his legacy with a new generation of music lovers. “Sun Ra has been honored in Birmingham before, but this festival will be a celebration of his memory and impact, and will carry his music and message forward well into the future,” Shook said in a statement. “We want to honor the memory of Ra and carry his music and message forward well into the future, both here in Birmingham, as well as around the globe.”
The festival will also be a celebration of Sun Ra’s intergalactic philosophy, and will feature events and activities that reflect his love of science fiction, numerology, and Egyptian mythology. The legacy of Sun Ra continues to inspire and influence jazz musicians, writers, and scholars around the world. His music and message remain a powerful force, and his legacy will be celebrated in Birmingham with a new, multi-day festival that promises to shine a light on the life and legacy of this musical genius and intergalactic philosopher. The Sun Ra Festival will be a unique and exciting event that will bring together music lovers, artists, and scholars from across the city and beyond. It will be a celebration of Sun Ra’s music, message, and legacy, and will provide a platform for artists and musicians to showcase their talents and share their passion for Sun Ra’s work.