June Tyson

June Tyson (February 5, 1936 – November 24, 1992) was an American singer, violinist, and dancer who performed with bandleader Sun Ra.<ref>Stark, Karl. "5 more CDs are added to Sun Ra series." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 22, 1992, pp. E1, E5 (subscription required).</ref><ref>Bennett, Karen. "The Brother from Another Planet." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 25, 1988 (subscription required).</ref><ref>Davis, Francis. "Sun Ra, himself." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 16, 1990, p. D1 (subscription required).</ref>

Biography

A native of Albemarle, North Carolina, Tyson worked in Harlem during the 1960s as a singer. She performed in a series of outdoor Broadway musicals in Manhattan's Jackie Robinson Park, where, in 1968, Lem Roebuck, manager of the Sun Ra Arkestra, recognized her talents and introduced her to bandleader Sun Ra. She became the only woman in his band, performing solo, duets, and call-and-response vocals.<ref name="Szwed">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Holiday">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Tyson also worked as the band's costume designer, choreographer, and violinist.<ref name="cosmic">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Her husband, Richard Wilkerson, was a member of the crew who designed lighting and sound.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Their home in Harlem became a regular stop for members of the band.<ref name="Holiday" />