Sun Ra Day made official, festival coming next week

The City of Birmingham and state of Alabama will officially be making May 22 “Sun Ra Day.”

The initiative honors legendary jazz composer, band leader, mythical musician and Birmingham native Sun Ra on his birthday.

Sun Ra

Herman Poole Blount was born May 22nd, 1914, in Birmingham. He is better known by his assumed name, Le Sony’r Ra, commonly shortened to just Sun Ra.

Sun Ra claimed to come from Saturn on a mission of peace. His band — The Arkestra — challenged the conventions of modern jazz, bringing in spacey horns and synthesizers to introduce new sounds. Sun Ra and his Arkestra shot to fame with their unique performances and fusion of ancient Egyptian and space imagery.

“Sun Ra is deserving of this recognition for a few reasons. One, just being one of the most pioneering figures in the world of jazz, and really in the world of music in general. But beyond that, in terms of representing Birmingham and Alabama, he’s one of the best known musical figures to ever come out of our state, a world-renowned person.”

Lee Shook, Sun Ra Day Festival organizer

Sun Ra earned inductions into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 2014.

Sun Ra Day Festival

The city and state’s proclamations come as Birmingham prepares for a unique Sun Ra Day Festival on what would have been his 111th birthday.

Lee Shook started a fundraiser March 23rd to put on the event. In just under two months, he raised the $31,000 needed for it to go ahead.

“I just can’t thank the community enough who helped make this possible. We did a GoFundMe campaign and raised $31,000, all from private donations, to pull this off and to be able to bring the Sun Ra Arkestra here to celebrate Sun Ra Day. Without the people, without the community coming together for it, none of this would have happened.”

Lee Shook, Sun Ra Day Festival organizer

The festival will run May 21-25 and feature a wide range of events.

• Wednesday, May 21 
  • Sidewalk Cinema and Southern Music Research Center present: Space is the Place + Sun Ra Short Film (7:00PM, $15 per ticket)
  • After Party at The House of Found Objects featuring Sweet Wreath (10:00PM)
• Thursday, May 22
  • Seasick Records Albums + Poster Signing (Noon)
  • Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame presents: Sun Ra Day Celebration, featuring a Happy Hour with Birmingham native and contemporary jazz musician José Carr (5:00-7:00PM), a meet-and-greet with the Arkestra for concert ticket holders (7:00-7:30PM), a performance by Sun Ra’s Arkestra live at the Carver Theater (8:00-10:00PM, $37.95 per ticket) and a Cassandra Griffen Photo Exhibit.
  • After Party at Saturn featuring Vishnu, Davis & Haleigh and Kirkos (10:30PM)
• Friday, May 23
  • Educational Panel at Saturn featuring members of the Arkestra, Griffen and music writer and radio host Burgin Matthews (1:00PM)
  • The Nick presents: An Evening with the Arkestra (6:30PM, $45 per ticket)
• Saturday, May 24
  • East Village Arts presents: Craig Legg’s “Ark in Town: Paintings of Sun Ra Arkestra Past and Present” exhibit, Sun Ra Art Collective, Moon Stew Potluck Lunch and DJ sets by The Audiovore and the Shure Shot (11:00AM-2:00PM, walk-up $10 ticket)

Money raised from the festival will go directly to each individual venue as they continue to support Music and the Arts in the Magic City.

Planning to attend the Sun Ra Festival? Let us know and tag us @bhamnow after to show us your best photos!