Few musicians have been as delightfully and fascinatingly weird as Sun Ra. He was born Herman Poole Blount, changed his name to honor the Egyptian god of the sun, believed he was an angelic being from ...

The outlandish persona Sun Ra created and maintained for himself over the years may sometimes distract from the adventurous intent of the music he made. Yet it is testament to his vigorous loyalty to ...

This October, Sun Ra Arkestra are releasing their first new studio album since 1999’s A Song for the Sun. The as-yet-untitled record will arrive via Strut. Below, check out the Arkestra’s “Seductive ...

1960 was one of many turning points in the career of Sun Ra. That year he moved from Chicago’s South Side to New York City. Behind, he left the idea that became the AACM, plus many inspired musicians ...

Questlove, Dawn Richard and a range of other musicians, writers and critics share their favorites from the experimental pianist, organist and bandleader’s wide-ranging catalog. By Marcus J. Moore ...

Without the jazz musician, poet, and bandleader Sun Ra, the music industry would look and sound somewhat different. Countless mainstream artists have been inspired by his boundlessness and his ability ...

The FADER’s “Songs You Need” are the tracks we can’t stop playing. Check back every day for new music and follow along on our Spotify playlist. Last October, the Sun Ra Arkestra dropped Swirling, ...

The Sun Ra Arkestra will revisit some of the late jazz legend’s classic compositions on the outfit’s new album Swirling, their first studio LP in over 20 years. Under the direction of bandleader ...

Avant-garde jazz icon Sun Ra is being celebrated not for his other-worldly musical compositions, but for his poetry. In a new album from Omni Sound, titled My Words Are Music: A Celebration of Sun ...

AIDS-awareness nonprofit Red Hot has announced a new tribute album honoring Sun Ra. Nuclear War, due out May 26, is the first volume in a new Red Hot & Ra series. Listen to the lead single, “Nuke’s ...

In certain ways, Marshall Allen has passed the time during the pandemic like most of us have. He leaves his house just to take quick strolls around the neighborhood for some fresh air and exercise. As ...

Sun Ra and His Arkestra at Balloon Theatre, Cairo, 1971. (Hartmut Geerken) By signing up, you confirm that you are over the age of 16 and agree to receive occasional promotional offers for programs ...