In the sixties, while African American leaders and musicians were protesting for their civil rights, there was one musician that was fighting for the rights of the cosmos. The inter/outer-galtic creative human UFO Sun Ra was making sounds with his Arkestra that could be transmitted into outer-space! This real life alien took jazz far beyond the avant garde into the realm of drone punk. To list all of the people that have been inspired by Sun Ra would take up way too much space. The way he lived his life was punk before there was even the term – this fact can be seen in his influence on the MC5 and Sonic Youth. The BBC made an in-depth documentary about his music and his life. Even if you have not heard of Sun Ra, watch this film in full and you come away with some form of respect for him. When I watch this film, I am reminded of how important it is to be an individual and not to let society at large shape how I see the world. After the jump, check out this Sun Ra documentary and a magical photo gallery!
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