Robert Barry (December 4, 1932 – January 8, 2018) was an American jazz musician. He was a percussionist who played with Miles Davis,

Gene Ammons Eugene "Jug" Ammons (April 14, 1925 – August 6, 1974), also known as "The Boss", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. The son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons is remembered for his accessible music, steeped in soul and ...

, Fred Anderson and Johnny Griffin but was best known for his work with Sun Ra and

The Sun Ra Arkestra The Sun Ra Arkestra is an American jazz group formed in the mid-1950s and led by keyboardist/composer Sun Ra until his death in 1993. The group is considered a pioneer of afrofuturism. As of 2022, the Arkestra is led by saxophonist Marshall Alle ...

Early life

Barry was born in Chicago. He graduated from

DuSable High School Jean Baptiste Point DuSable High School is a public four-year high school campus located in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. DuSable is owned by the Chicago Public Schools district. The school ...

, where he studied under

Captain Walter Dyett Walter Henri Dyett (also known as Captain Walter Henri Dyett; January 11, 1901 – November 17, 1969) was an American violinist and music educator in the Chicago Public Schools system. He served as music director and assistant music director ...

Career

Barry joined the Sun Ra Arkestra in the 1950s, appearing on albums such as ''

We Travel the Space Ways ''We Travel the Space Ways'' is an album by the American jazz musician Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra. Recorded mostly in 1960, the album was released in 1967, on Sun Ra's own label Saturn. The album brings together a number of eras and per ...

'', ''

Nubians of Plutonia ''The Nubians of Plutonia'' is an album recorded by Sun Ra and his Myth Science Arkestra c.1958 – 1959 and released c.1966 on his own Saturn label. Originally released in a blank sleeve under the title ''The Lady With The Golden Stockings'', the ...

'', and '' Sun Song''. However, when the Arkestra moved to New York City in 1961, Barry stayed in Chicago, ending his tenure with the band.

References

2018 deaths Musicians from Chicago African-American drummers American jazz drummers African-American jazz musicians Sun Ra Arkestra members 20th-century African-American musicians 20th-century American musicians 1932 births {{US-jazz-drummer-stub