June Tyson
June Tyson was an American singer, violinist, and dancer who performed with bandleader Sun Ra.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. Tyson also worked as the band's costume designer, choreographer, and violinist. Her husband, Richard Wilkerson, was a member of the crew who designed lighting and sound. Their home in Harlem became a regular stop for members of the band.