Editing Sun Ra (section)

===Early professional career and college===
In 1934, Blount was offered his first full-time musical job by [[Ethel Ernestine Harper|Ethel Harper]], his biology teacher from the high school, who had organized a band to pursue a career as a singer. Blount joined a musicians' [[trade union]] and toured with Harper's group through the US [[Southeastern United States|Southeast]] and [[Midwest]]. When Harper left the group mid-tour to move to New York (she later was a member of the modestly successful singing group the Ginger Snaps), Blount took over leadership of the group, renaming it the Sonny Blount Orchestra. They continued touring for several months before dissolving as unprofitable.<ref name="szwed"/>{{rp|24–26}} Though the first edition of the Sonny Blount Orchestra was not financially successful, they earned positive notice from fans and other musicians. Blount afterward found steady employment as a musician in Birmingham.

Birmingham clubs often featured exotic trappings, such as vivid lighting and murals with tropical or oasis scenes. Some believe these influenced the elements Sun Ra incorporated in his later stage shows. Playing for the big bands gave black musicians a sense of pride and togetherness, and they were highly regarded in the black community. They were expected to be disciplined and presentable, and in the segregated South, black musicians had wide acceptance in white society. They often played for elite white society audiences (though they were typically forbidden from associating with the audience).

In 1936, Whatley's intercession led to Blount's being awarded a scholarship at [[Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University]]. He was a music education major, studying composition, orchestration, and music theory. He dropped out after a year.<ref name="szwed"/>{{rp|26–32}}