Born in Chicago, Ackamoor founded The Pyramids in 1970 while studying at Ohio’s Antioch College, a hotbed of progressive thought and radical creativity. Inspired by avant-garde legend Cecil Taylor, who led the college’s Black Music Ensemble, Ackamoor began crafting a sound that defied boundaries.

The Pyramids toured Europe and Africa, absorbing global influences before settling in San Francisco in 1972. Their music fused Afrocentric philosophy, social consciousness, and fearless experimentation — captured in three groundbreaking albums: Lalibela, King of Kings, and Birth/Speed/Merging.

Idris Ackamoor remained a vital force in the Bay Area, reviving The Pyramids, leading his arts collective Cultural Odyssey, and releasing new work through Strut Records — including his 2025 album Artistic Being, featuring Danny Glover and Rhodessa Jones.