June Tyson (February 5, 1936 – November 24, 1992) was an American singer, violinist, and dancer who performed with bandleader
Sun Ra
Le Sony'r Ra (born Herman Poole Blount, May 22, 1914 – May 30, 1993), better known as Sun Ra, was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific out ...
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Biography
A native of
Albemarle, North Carolina
Albemarle () is a small city and the county seat of Stanly County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 15,903 in the 2010 Census. Gerald R. "Ronnie" Michael (a former police chief in the city) serves as Mayor and Albemarle has a se ...
, Tyson worked in Harlem during the 1960s as a singer. She met pianist Sun Ra and became the only woman in his band, the Arkestra.
Tyson also worked as the band's costume designer, choreographer, and violinist.
She married a member of the crew who designed lighting and sound. Their home in Harlem became a regular stop for members of the band.
References
1936 births
1992 deaths
People from Albemarle, North Carolina
American jazz singers
American women jazz singers
American jazz violinists
Sun Ra Arkestra members
20th-century American violinists
20th-century American singers
20th-century American women singers
Jazz musicians from North Carolina
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