Sun Ra

Sun Ra (born Herman Poole Blount, later Le Sony'r Ra; 22 May 1914 – 30 May 1993) was an American composer, bandleader, pianist and synthesiser player who worked in jazz, experimental and avant-garde idioms. He led the Sun Ra Arkestra and promulgated a cosmic philosophy associated with Afrofuturism, combining big-band arrangements, free improvisation and electronic instrumentation.