Musical Messages from Saturn: 100 years of Sun Ra

Composer and keyboardist Sun Ra first appeared on Earth on May 22, 1914, in Birmingham, Alabama. His inquiring mind and original musical ideas were evident from a young age, leading him to the study of esoteric subjects and the creation of a vast catalog of unusual music that displays a cosmic vision rooted in jazz. With his orchestras variously titled Myth Science Arkestra, Astro Infinity Arkestra, or Intergalactic Research Arkestra, Sun Ra performed around the world, and recorded dozens of albums for his own El Saturn Records and other labels.

To honor Sun Ra's Centenary, and provide an introduction to Ra's life and work, David Garland is joined by Sun Ra archivist Michael D. Anderson (aka The Good Doctor and Dr. Bop on WFMU and WBGO) and WFMU's Irwin Chusid. Anderson and Chusid are overseeing reissues of Sun Ra's recordings, and they share some classics and rarities.