Jazz bassist Ronnie Boykins was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 17, 1935. He was best known for his work with Sun Ra’s Arkestra in the 1950s and 1960s. He began his musical journey at Dusable High School in Chicago, studying under music teacher ‘Captain’ Walter Dyett. In 1958, he joined Sun Ra’s Arkestra during their Chicago period. He then traveled with the Arkestra to Canada before following them to New York City. Ronald Boykins appeared on pivotal albums by the group including The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Volume One and Volume Two (1965) and The Magic City (1966). In total, he appeared on over 50 Sun Ra releases and was a permanent member until 1966. His bass playing was crucial to the band’s sound and his time with the group is often referred to as their finest. Although he left the Arkestra, he would still rejoin them on special occasions. Even while employed by Sun Ra, Ronnie Boykins was a popular sideman, spending the ‘60s recording with artists such as Eric Kloss, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Horace Parlan, George Benson, Bill Barron, Sarah Vaughan, and many others. He formed his own group, the Free Jazz Society, in the late ‘60s before joining the Melodic Art-tet in the 1970s. In 1975, he released The Will Come, Is Now, his first and only album as leader. In 1979, he played on Steve Lacy’s 1979 album Capers. Ronnie Boykin died on April 20, 1980, at the age of 44.
