Grassroots Campaign Aims to Fund Sun Ra Arkestra’s Return to Jazz Pioneer’s Hometown

Sun Ra appears in a 1973 publicity photo for Impulse/ABC Dunhill Records. A grassroots GoFundMe campaign aims to bring the Sun Ra Arkestra to his hometown of Birmingham for a four-day celebration of what would be his 111th birthday.

A grassroots GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $22,000 (as of press time) toward a $31,000 goal to bring the Sun Ra Arkestra to Birmingham for a four-day celebration of the bandleader’s 111th birthday. All proceeds will cover travel, lodging and production costs, with concert ticket revenue supporting local venues and youth jazz programs.

Herman “Sonny” Poole Blount, better known as Sun Ra, was born in Birmingham on May 22, 1914, and died there on May 30, 1993. A pioneering composer, bandleader and Afrofuturist philosopher, he fused big-band swing with synthesizers and cosmic theatrics to forge a sound that inspired generations. Over a 50-year career and nearly 200 albums, he composed more than 1,000 pieces, pioneering free improvisation, modal jazz and early electronic keyboards. His theatrical live shows — complete with elaborate costumes, dancers and spoken-word manifestos — helped lay the foundation for Afrofuturism and influenced artists from Parliament-Funkadelic to Janelle Monáe.

 

Since Ra’s passing, saxophonist Marshall Allen has led the Arkestra, preserving Ra’s “discipline” and expansive vision on stages worldwide. Allen, who turned 100 last year, remains at the helm of a band that has sold out shows from European jazz festivals to Tokyo’s Shinjuku Pit Inn.

The campaign, “Celebrate Sun Ra’s Legacy in Birmingham,” brings together the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, Sidewalk Cinema, Saturn Records, Seasick Records, Southern Music Research Center and East Village Arts. Two headline concerts — May 22 at Carver Theatre and May 23 at The Nick — anchor a slate of film screenings, art exhibits, panel discussions and youth workshops. Proceeds from the May 22 concert will benefit the Hall’s Saturday Jazz Greats initiative.

“This is our chance to honor Sun Ra where it all began,” said organizer Lee Shook. “Fans from Chicago to Tokyo to Johannesburg can join us in spirit — and help launch Birmingham’s first official Sun Ra Day.”

Tentative Event schedule (May 21–24)

• May 21: Screening of Space Is the Place at Sidewalk Cinema; House of Found Objects after-party

• May 22 (Sun Ra’s birthday): Seasick Records in-store signing at noon; workshop TBA; Arkestra concert at Carver Theatre; late-night set at Saturn Records

• May 23: “An Evening with the Sun Ra Arkestra” at The Nick, site of their famed 1988 show

• May 24: Craig Legg’s “Ark in Town” exhibit at East Village Arts; Moon Stew potluck and DJ sets by Rahdu, Suaze and The Audiovore

Full schedule and donation info at gofundme.com/f/4sc93-celebrate-sun-ras-legacy-in-birmingham.

2025 AMAs: Kendrick Lamar Tops Nominees, Beyoncé Lands Country Album Nod

Kendrick Lamar, seen in a promotional image for “GNX,” leads the 2025 American Music Awards with 10 nominations — a showing that could make him the most-awarded hip-hop artist in AMA history.

Kendrick Lamar tops this year’s American Music Awards with 10 nominations, including Artist of the Year; Album of the Year for "GNX"; Song of the Year for "Not Like Us"; Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Music Video; Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist; Favorite Hip-Hop Album; and three entries in Favorite Hip-Hop Song ("Like That," "Not Like Us" and "Luther").

He landed three of the five slots in Favorite Hip-Hop Song, underscoring his dominance on the charts and in culture.

Black women make a major showing across genres. SZA joins Lamar on multiple fronts — Artist of the Year; Collaboration of the Year ("Luther"); and Favorite Female R&B Artist — while rising star Doechii vies for Social Song of the Year ("Anxiety") alongside fellow breakout Lola Young. In Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist, the field is a who’s-who of today’s voices: Doechii, GloRilla, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion and Sexyy Red.

R&B also reflects the strength of urban voices. SZA’s "SOS Deluxe" and The Weeknd’s "Hurry Up Tomorrow" go head-to-head for Favorite R&B Album, while Kehlani, Muni Long and Summer Walker join SZA in the Favorite Female R&B Artist race. Usher, Chris Brown and Bryson Tiller lead the men’s side in Favorite Male R&B Artist.

On the country front, Beyoncé’s "Cowboy Carter" makes history with a nod for Favorite Country Album against Shaboozey’s "Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going" — two Black artists vying in a category long dominated by white acts.

Post Malone follows Lamar with eight nominations, spanning Artist of the Year; Album of the Year for "F-1 Trillion"; Song of the Year for "I Had Some Help"; two bids in Collaboration of the Year ("I Had Some Help" with Morgan Wallen and "Fortnight" with Taylor Swift); Favorite Male Country Artist; Favorite Country Album; and Favorite Country Song.

Pop powerhouse Billie Eilish and breakout Chappell Roan each picked up seven nominations, while rock stalwarts Linkin Park and Twenty One Pilots aim to extend their reign in Favorite Rock Artist.

Jennifer Lopez returns to host the 51st AMAs live from Las Vegas on Monday, May 26, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS, with streaming available on Paramount+.

Key Nominees by Nomination Count

• Kendrick Lamar (10): Artist of the Year; Album of the Year (GNX); Song of the Year (“Not Like Us”); Collaboration of the Year; Favorite Music Video; Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist; Favorite Hip-Hop Album; Favorite Hip-Hop Song (×3)

• Post Malone (8): Artist of the Year; Album of the Year (F-1 Trillion); Song of the Year (“I Had Some Help”); Collaboration of the Year (×2); Favorite Male Country Artist; Favorite Country Album; Favorite Country Song

• Billie Eilish (7): Artist of the Year; Album of the Year (Hit Me Hard and Soft); Song of the Year (“Birds of a Feather”); Favorite Touring Artist; Favorite Female Pop Artist; Favorite Pop Album; Favorite Pop Song

• Chappell Roan (7): Artist of the Year; New Artist of the Year; Album of the Year; Song of the Year; Social Song of the Year; Favorite Female Pop Artist; Favorite Pop Album

• Shaboozey (7): New Artist of the Year; Song of the Year (“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”); Social Song of the Year; Favorite Music Video; Favorite Male Country Artist; Favorite Country Album; Favorite Country Song

For the full list of nominees, visit the official AMAs site by clicking here. 

Snoop Dogg’s Gospel Album ‘Altar Call’ Drops Sunday on Death Row

Album art for “Death Row Records Presents: Altar Call” features a photo of Snoop Dogg’s late mother, Beverly Tate, whose birthday coincides with the album’s Sunday release. (Courtesy Death Row Records)

Snoop Dogg will swap G‑funk for gospel this month, unveiling a 21‑track set titled “Death Row Records Presents: Altar Call,” dropping this Sunday — the day that would have marked the 74th birthday of his late mother, Beverly Tate.

The rapper announced the project in an Instagram reel, telling fans, “Good afternoon, loved ones … April 27 I’m dropping a gospel album on Death Row Records … God is good — won’t He do it? Try to block my blessing, my team undefeated.”

“Altar Call” reunites Snoop with several high‑profile collaborators. iHeartRadio lists guest spots from Jamie Foxx, Robert Glasper, Jazze Pha, Denaun Porter, Mali Music, Jane Handcock, October London and the newly formed Death Row Mass Choir, while the Bereal Family lends vocals to the lead single “Help Me Jesus,” released April 18.

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Speaking with faith‑based outlet Movieguide, the Long Beach native said the album “is a reflection of what [my mother] taught me — use my voice to spread love and heal the world.”

Fans can already pre‑add the record on Apple Music through a Death Row/Gamma landing page that displays the full 21‑song lineup.

“Altar Call” follows Snoop’s 2018 gospel debut, “Bible of Love,” which spent seven weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart and remained on the tally for 32 weeks overall. It is also his first full‑length release since he reacquired Death Row Records in 2022, turning the onetime gangsta‑rap stronghold into what he calls “the world’s most dangerous record label — now with a message.