The United States Of America

Experimental Psychedelic Rock Band from the Late 1960s

The United States of America was an American experimental rock band whose career was marked by a brief but influential period in the late 1960s. Formed in Los Angeles in 1967 by Joseph Byrd, a music teacher and former avant-garde musician, and lead vocalist Dorothy Moskowitz, the band combined elements of psychedelia with avant-garde and electronic music. Their self-titled debut album, "The United States of America," released in 1968, is their only studio album and has since become a cult classic. The album was notable for its innovative use of electronic instruments and is considered ahead of its time, blending distorted electric violin, calliope-like keyboards, and Byrd's use of ring modulators. Despite critical acclaim, the band disbanded shortly after the release due to internal tensions and the challenging nature of their music, which made it difficult to achieve commercial success during their active years.