Sun Ra was born on the planet Saturn, ages ago, and spent some time on Earth
using the power of music to demonstrate the virtues of discipline and harmony
to members of this planet. Or, if you prefer a more straightforward approach
to your musical biographies, Sun Ra was born Herman P. Blount in Birmingham,
Alabama in 1914.
Whichever way you choose to look at matters, some things are
not in doubt : Sun Ra arrived on this planet via Birmingham on May 22, 1914,
left this planet on May 30, 1993, and spent the majority of his time here working
with groups of musicians to leave behind an amazingly large, diverse, diffuse,
and beautiful catalogue of recordings and live performances the likes of which
has never been seen before.