The Sun Ra Arkestra is the long-running musical project and ensemble led by jazz composer and keyboardist Sun Ra. Active since the 1950s, the band is known for its large, intergalactic free jazz sound, with numerous members contributing elements of rock, rhythm & blues, psychedelia, gospel music, avant-garde and African music. The group has been managed and fronted by Sun Ra since he founded it in the mid-1950s, having been known as The Myth Science Arkestra and The Solar Arkestra. Sun Ra's music has had a huge influence on modern jazz, including free jazz, electro-acoustic jazz and post-bop jazz. The group has toured extensively around the world and collaborated with many art forms such as film, theatre, and dance. They have released numerous albums of original music, as well as re-releasing some of Sun Ra's earliest recordings.