A Vote AGAINST Ending Saturn List
A Vote AGAINST Ending Saturn List
Saturnians,
The week-end has brought to the fore a series of events that appear to hev been lurking beneath the surface of our reality for some time, with the initial result of crys of doom and gloom from quite a few of us. This is truly unfortunate and I can understand where those posts are coming from. However much we might wish that Marshall and the guys at the House of Ra could continue producing the music without the spectre of lawyers breathing down their collective neck, it appears that at least the threat of such as come to pass.
Support of Marshall and the Arkestra has come forth and I assume that everyone wishes the best conculsion to this mess. Rather than seeing an increased interest in the life, thought, and music of Sun Ra we may well see his name fading from awareness as things are dragged through an endless series of legal proceedings.
Frankly, I don't see much of this happening. The Sun Ra Estate (to use the caps that they were given in an earlier posting) consists of distant relatives of Sun Ra, many of whom had never heard any of his music before Robert Campbell's lecture at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, and have little idea what the music, thought, and life of Sunny was. Sun Ra, Inc. may, or may not actually exist, established in the State of Alabama or any other state of the Union. It would probbaly be for the best if I didn't say more at present, given the volatile status of the List, but there may be assumptions made that should be voiced, questioned, and discussed at length.
Didn't Marshall Allen and John Gilmore establish The Sun Ra Arkestra as a non-profit organisatoin in Philadelphia, under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania after Sunny left the planet? If so, wouldn't that giev Marshall and the guys at the House of Ra an obvious priority in the use of the name?
Lots of questions need to be asked before we ask Chris Trent to pull the plug on this most enjoyable forum, and I have yet to see any of them brought forth, or discussed.
Will I continue to offer Saturn Web on the World Wide Web?
YES.
It is a source of information and opinion about Sun Ra, The Sun Ra Arkestra, and Free Jazz, one that will continue to operate on the assumption that the free exchange of information, and opinion, is what makes a democracy function. IF someone trademarks the letter combinations "S-U-N R-A" and "T-H-E A-R-K-E-S-T-R-A" I would find myself in the same boat as the hundreds of Web masters who use trademarked terms such as Star Trek, Mickey Mouse and Volkswagon.
It is VERY unfortunate that we have a division in the community. I have definite opinions, as I'm certain many of us do, but I would hate to see so pleasant a source of enjoyment, information, and others' thoughts be tossed out as an impulsive reaction to a distastelful situation.
CONTINUE SATURN LIST, and use it as a forum, as was Tom Buck's original intent when he formed it.
I have little doubt that I will submit more on the situation as it evolves.
Do let Marshall and the guys know that you care.
Saturnally,
Joe Moudry E-Mail: Moudry@uab.edu Technical Training Specialist Ma Bell: (205) 975-6631 Office of Academic Computing & Technology Fax: (205) 975-7494 School of Education The University of Alabama @ Birmingham
Snail Mail: 154EB 901 13th Street South Birmingham AL 35205 USA
Master of Saturn Web (Sun Ra, the Arkestra, & Free Jazz): http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~moudry
Producer/Host of Classic Jazz (Armstrong -> Ayler ->)on Alabama Public Radio: WUAL 91.5FM Tuscaloosa/Birmingham WQPR 88.7FM Muscle Shoals/NW Alabama WAPR 88.3FM Selma/Montgomery/Southern Alabama