Dawn Lambeth & The Usonia Jazz Band

I am curius about the name Usonia. Any idea that Frank LLoyd Wright coined the name Usonian for a style of residential architecture he started building in the 30's? I am a volunteer docent for the Usonian home here i manchester, Nh, owned by the Currier Museum. www.currier.org. Cheers! Jim

Hi Jim,
Nice to hear from you, we frequently get asked about our name. It's our understanding that "Usonia" was being bantered about in early part of the century as an alternative name for the USA. We liked it because it had connections with both musical and architectural heroes of ours. In addition to the association with Frank Lloyd Wright, it was also the name of a music venue venture in 1927 by four jazz musicians: Louis and Lil Armstrong, drummer Zutty Singleton, and pianist Earl Hines. We've happy to say we've persevered a bit longer than the Usonia Ballroom, which was quickly overshadowed by the Savoy Ballroom, and I hope we're able to someday visit the Usonian home you volunteer at.

Jazz Masters of the 20's by Richard Hadlock

Wikionary entry for Usonia