I went to Sun Ra’s house in 1988 on several occasions (interviewing him for a story in The Philadelphia Inquirer Sunday Magazine), I also attended his local concerts (there were many) and spoke with him on the phone at least 3 times a week. Once I asked June how it felt to be the only woman in the band. She responded, “I’m not here as a woman. I’m here as an angel.“ KB
My friend Mike Johnston of the Northwoods Improvisors, a Ra fanatic since the '60s, once made me a June Tyson mix-CD, culled from his mammoth Sun Ra collection. One of my prized possessions.
BTW - Thanks for writing that great article on Faruq in the August 2004 Cadence magazine. That is a terrific historical reference. I just got out my copy and re-read it. Was it taken from two different interviews and complied for the August issue?
I went to Sun Ra’s house in 1988 on several occasions (interviewing him for a story in The Philadelphia Inquirer Sunday Magazine), I also attended his local concerts (there were many) and spoke with him on the phone at least 3 times a week. Once I asked June how it felt to be the only woman in the band. She responded, “I’m not here as a woman. I’m here as an angel.“ KB
That is wonderful. I met her once in Oakland after a concert. She was indeed angelic.
My friend Mike Johnston of the Northwoods Improvisors, a Ra fanatic since the '60s, once made me a June Tyson mix-CD, culled from his mammoth Sun Ra collection. One of my prized possessions.
BTW - Thanks for writing that great article on Faruq in the August 2004 Cadence magazine. That is a terrific historical reference. I just got out my copy and re-read it. Was it taken from two different interviews and complied for the August issue?
Thanks for your kind words. As I recall, that was a single long phone interview that I conducted from my then-home in California.
BTW: Did you see my write-up on Griot Galaxy? Mike helped me out with that.
Epic article.
I'll have to ask Mike for a copy of that one! A treasure indeed.
June was such a presents !
Great piece. I interviewed Marshall Allen and Danny Ray Thompson about Ms. Tyson when the compilation you mention was released:
https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/sun-ra-arkestras-june-tyson-was-the-queen-of-afrofuturism
Thank you including this important and well done document - and thanks for writing it!