Ahmed Abdullah

Ahmed Abdullah (born Leroy Bland; May 10, 1947) is a jazz trumpeter who was a prominent member of Sun Ra's band.
Biography.
Born Leroy Bland, he began playing the trumpet at age 13 in his native New York City. By the 1970s he was performing in New York's loft scene, and joined the Sun Ra Arkestra in 1976, working there on and off until 1993, when Sun Ra died. During that time Abdullah participated in more than 25 recordings and traveled extensively with Sun Ra.
Abdullah, who has also used the names Solomon and Melchizedek, explored several religions early in life and attended a mosque for a short time, but then converted to and maintained a faith in Buddhism.
Discography.
As sideman.
With Sun Ra
With Arthur Blythe
With Billy Bang
With Dennis González