Luqman Ali - 'all the cats loved him'

A CRITIC once wrote that Luqman Ali was "an historic archetype, the quintessential traveling musician, born in one place at one moment, but . . . finding home to be at many places over many years, all over the globe."

His skills, the critic wrote, were "sharpened by the hard work of years traveling through the smokey forgotten clubs, bars and restaurants of the chitlin circuit, and in the concert halls of eminent spectacle, alongside the most famous of performing stars."

That profile, written by guitarist David Hotep, succinctly sums up the life and career of a man whose percussion skills graced many a musical aggregation over the years, around the country and around the world, most notably with the Sun Ra Arkestra, based in Germantown.

Luqman Ali, who had been performing since the age of 7, when he began singing spirituals in his native Mississippi; who took up the drums in high school; and who was devoted to his family and his Islamic faith, died Aug. 19. He was 67 and lived in Germantown.

"He was a beautiful cat," said Danny Thomas, who plays baritone sax and flute in the Arkestra. "He could really push a band. It's one thing to be a drummer, but to push 15 or 16 guys, that's a whole other deal."

He said Luqman could play many styles of drumming - New Orleans, Chicago, Memphis - because he had lived and played in those cities.

"This is a big loss," Danny said. "All the cats loved him."

The Arkestra played at Luqman's funeral service at the Ellis Funeral Home, 529 Rising Sun Ave., on Monday, and at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Southwest Philadelphia, where he was buried.

"We wanted to give him a real New Orleans send off," Danny said.

Luqman idolized Max Roach, who died Aug. 15. Danny said that Luqman became ill about three weeks ago and that he decided not to tell him about it. "I didn't want to upset him," he said.

Luqman was still driving the Arkestra, now run by alto saxophonist Marshall Allen, as late as the middle of last month, when it played at the Clef Club in Philadelphia and the West Oak Lane Dance Festival.

He had met Sun Ra, born Herman Poole Blount, in Chicago in the 1960s. Sun Ra, who died in 1993, moved his base to Germantown in the late '60s. The band was famous for its offbeat and experimental music, but also played traditional jazz.

Luqman was born Edward Skinner in Starksville, Miss., and was raised by his grandparents. When he was 9, the family moved to Memphis, where he went to school.

By seventh grade, he aspired to play saxophone in the school band, but he couldn't afford the instrument. But he was able to buy a drum book, sticks and practice pad from a classmate.

In the ninth and 10th grades, he and other students formed an ensemble that played at a local hotel. Guitarist BB King would sit in with the group in the days before he became famous.

After high school, Luqman began playing in road bands, mostly R&B, with the likes of James Brown, the Midnighters, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke and others.

Back home in Memphis, he was playing at the Trumpet Inn with a young Isaac Hayes.

It was in 1964 that Luqman came upon the teachings of Islam. He was transformed from Edward Skinner to Luqman Ali, and was sent with a cadre of believers to build a Nation of Islam temple in Springfield, Ill., requiring him to work in brick and mortar.

His work with the Nation of Islam occupied him for the next 15 years. He and his family moved to North Africa, where they remained for several months.

When he returned, he got back into music. He moved to New York City and began performing and making records with Sun Ra.

In the late '80s, he moved to Germantown, where he remained, performing and recording with Sun Ra.

He is survived by three sons, Cedric, Khalif and Zahido; a daughter, Fatima; a brother, James Skinner, and seven grandchildren. *