An interesting and sometimes humorous interview of Su Ra and his synths (only 2.2M mp3). Some details below posted by elmacaco on AH. BTW, elmacaco is looking for the real scoop behind what happened to Sun Ra's Minimoog Model B prototype. Rumors have it that it was destroyed in a pawn shop fire but then interviews mention it went missing. If you know, please post in the comments.
"Hi everyone,
Well I've been getting kinda deep into Sun Ra since watching Space is the
Place, and have gotten my hands on a few recorded interviews. THis one in
particular is titled "Sun Ra Speaking at Oct. 1971 Rehearsal" and the link
below takes you to where you can download the mp3.
He starts off talking about an analog sequencer, with the lights chasing,
and how you can change the speed, etc. Then he talks about a synth you play
by touching a copper strip instead of keys, and how he couldn't play it
because his skin resistance was different, that he had to wet his fingers to
be able to play it. He says this was produced "around here" and I have
references to Sun Ra rehearsing in Oakland in 1971, So that could place
"Around here" in Buchla or serge range geographicly, but it seems a bit
early for serge. Anyone know anything about this encounter? Perhaps
someone who knows him can ask Don if he knows something about it? I
He also talks about the people at Moog calling him to have him return the
prototype, swap it for a new one, or pay for it :D. He says something about
a lawsuit or something, but he may be building the mystique around the Model
B, since he is talking to his band, and saying that no one has the one he
has, that they just made it for him when he went by there one sunday.
Sorry for all the detail, but the link only lasts a week, so it makes some
good archive info.
I've combed the archives here and in other places, and there doesn't seem to
be a lot of good information on Sun Ra and his instruments. The best I can
piece together about the Fate of the Model B is that it was destroyed in a
pawn shop fire, but in other Sun Ra interviews I see him mention that it
went missing. If anyone knows the real scoop, or just has some more
mythology, please share it.
Even general Sun Ra anecdotes are welcome, as he was a really interesting
guy, but particularly synth related stuff, as there isn't enough of that,
and it's on topic ;')"
elmacaco
I'm anxious to learn more about the film "Cry of Jazz". Do you know rhat film and is it inteested to have a copy of it?
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From everything I've read, his Mini was stolen at some point in the 70's.
ReplyDeletem.
It's unclear about the mini. In Sun Ra's bio, 'space is the place', Bob Moog says it arrived by train with no address on it, that they called him up from the station and asked if it were his. In another interview Moog seems to say SR didn't return unspecified items loaned to him. Sun Ra at one point played 2 minimoogs. It's unknown to me whether those were both retail Minimoog D's, or whether in fact one of them was the prototype.
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