Sun Ra was one of the most American musicians. The fact that he would have vigorously disputed that characterization cements his case. Purportedly born "Herman Poole Blount", the child prodigy changed his name to that of an Egyptian god after a spiritual / psychotic trip to Saturn sometime between 1936 and 1952. Funny, serious, cartoonish, preposterous, and polemical, Sun Ra's career spanned jazz styles from big bands through free jazz to early electronica.
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