Who Is Sun Ra? Age, Biography and Wiki
Sun Ra, born on May 22, 1914, was an influential American jazz composer and bandleader who passed away in 1993. Known for his avant-garde approach to music, he created a distinctive style known as “Afrofuturism.” By 2025, Sun Ra would have celebrated his 111th birthday, had he been alive. His life and work continue to inspire musicians and artists worldwide, as his contributions to jazz and music theory are studied in various academic settings.
| Occupation | Musicians |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | May 22, 1914 |
| Age | 79 Years |
| Birth Place | Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 30 May, 1993 |
| Died Place | N/A |
Popularity
Sun Ra's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific data regarding Sun Ra's height, weight, and measurements are not widely published, his larger-than-life persona and eccentric fashion style made him a visual icon in the music scene. His distinctive take on personal aesthetics was an integral part of his identity as an artist.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Sun Ra was known to be a deeply private individual. Details about his family life beyond his immediate professional associations remain limited. There is no widely available information regarding his relationships or any romantic partners. Many of his contemporaries noted his solitary nature, leading to speculation about his personal life, but confirmed details are sparse.
Szwed, and published in his 1998 book, Space Is the Place: The Lives and Times of Sun Ra. He was named after the popular vaudeville stage magician Black Herman, who had deeply impressed his mother. He was nicknamed "Sonny" from his childhood, had an older sister and half-brother, and was doted upon by his mother and grandmother.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing, Sun Ra's net worth is estimated to have been modest by celebrity standards, as he often prioritized artistic expression over commercial success. However, his influence has significantly grown posthumously, and his music continues to generate revenue through sales and streaming, thus enhancing the value of his catalog.
For decades, very little was known about Sun Ra's early life, and he contributed to its mystique. As a self-invented person, he routinely gave evasive, contradictory or seemingly nonsensical answers to personal questions, and denied his birth name.
He speculated, only half in jest, that he was distantly related to Elijah Poole, later known as Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Nation of Islam. His birthday for years remained unknown, as his claims ranged from 1910 to 1918. Only a few years before his death, the date of Sun Ra's birth was still a mystery.
Jim Macnie's notes for Blue Delight (1989) said that Sun Ra was believed to be about 75 years old. This turned out to be correct; Szwed was able to uncover a wealth of information about his early life, and confirmed a birth date of May 22, 1914.
Career, Business and Investments
Sun Ra had a prolific career spanning several decades, beginning in the 1930s. He founded the Sun Ra Arkestra and recorded numerous albums that challenged conventional music boundaries. His most notable works include "Space is the Place" and "The Futuristic Sounds of Sun Ra." Beyond music, he dabbled in film and theater, showcasing his artistic versatility. Although he was not known for traditional investments, his legacy has grown into a cultural phenomenon, leading to various posthumous projects that may generate income in 2025.
Le Sony'r Ra (born Herman Poole Blount, May 22, 1914 – May 30, 1993), better known as Sun Ra, was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific output, and theatrical performances. For much of his career, Ra led The Arkestra, an ensemble with an ever-changing name and flexible line-up.
Social Network
Sun Ra is celebrated across various social media platforms, where fans and music enthusiasts share archival footage, recordings, and tributes to his unique contributions to jazz. Online communities dedicated to Afrofuturism and experimental music continue to keep his spirit alive, making his work relevant to new generations.
Blount claimed that this experience occurred in 1936 or 1937. According to Szwed, the musician's closest associates cannot date the story any earlier than 1952. (Blount also said that the incident happened when he was living in Chicago, where he did not settle until the late 1940s).
Sun Ra discussed the vision, with no substantive variation, to the end of his life. His trip to Saturn allegedly occurred a full decade before flying saucers entered public consciousness with the 1947 encounter of Kenneth Arnold.
It was earlier than other public accounts: about 15 years before George Adamski wrote about contact with benevolent beings; and almost 20 years before the 1961 case of Barney and Betty Hill, who recounted sinister UFO abductions. Szwed says that, "even if this story is revisionist autobiography...
Sonny was pulling together several strains of his life. He was both prophesizing his future and explaining his past with a single act of personal mythology." Steingo emphasizes understanding Sun Ra's statements about his life in relation to his music.
Steingo writes: "Rather than think of [Sun Ra's] music as a performance and then consider only the content of his spoken words, we might instead understand everything he did as part of the same project to listen otherwise."
Education
Details regarding Sun Ra's formal education are limited. He began his music studies in high school and later attended the Alabama School of the Deaf and Blind. His education was complemented by extensive self-study and a natural inclination toward music, leading to his development as a singular force in jazz.
As we move through 2025, Sun Ra's legacy as a pioneering musician and visionary continues to resonate with fans and artists alike, reminding us of the boundless possibilities of creativity and self-expression.
In his teenage years, Blount demonstrated prodigious musical talent: many times, according to acquaintances, he went to big band performances and then produced full transcriptions of the bands' songs from memory. By his mid-teens, Blount was performing semi-professionally as a solo pianist, or as a member of various ad hoc jazz and R&B groups.
He attended Birmingham's segregated Industrial High School (now known as Parker High School), where he studied under music teacher John T. "Fess" Whatley, a demanding disciplinarian who was widely respected and whose classes produced many professional musicians.
