Whether he was just a man or, as he claims, an angel sent from Saturn to spread peace and love through his music, Sun Ra was one of the unique visionaries of the 20th century — a creator who turned his life into a work of art. Endlessly reinventing himself, Sun Ra’s innovations as a musician and artist extended beyond his groundbreaking works with electronic instruments and free improvisation to radical ideas about culture and performance. Beginning with his childhood as Herman Poole Blount born 1914 in Alabama, director Christine Turner follows the artist’s trajectory as he transforms from a talented musician into Sun Ra: a pioneer embracing new forms of jazz and Afrofuturism while building a home in the avant-garde. Seamlessly blending archival footage, in-depth interviews with scholars and musicians, live performances, and kaleidoscopic imagery, this documentary explores the legacy of one of the most iconoclastic artists of the modern age.
Christine Turner
Sun Ra
USA
2025
English
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Credits
Executive Producer
Stanley Nelson, Marcia Smith, Keith Brown, Michael Kantor, Bradford Smith
Producer
Christine Turner
Cinematography
Othello Banaci
Editor
Steven J. Golliday
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