Effective period / Period of releases: 1980 - 2007

Members: Bob Boilen, Lorenzo Jones, Terry Baker (2), Susan Mumford, Michael Barron

Tiny Desk Unit was a psychedelic dance band playing around Washington DC in 1979. In its short and fiery history TDU released one LP and one EP on its 9½" x 16" record label. The band first formed, rehearsed and performed at dc space on September 11th 1979. When the 9:30 Club opened its doors on May 30th 1980, Tiny Desk Unit was the first band to take the stage. The band rehearsed in the rat infested basement of the 9:30 Club and many of the band members lived within a few blocks of the club. On a few occasions Tiny Desk Unit were joined on stage by some of their favorite people, include Julius Hemphill of World Saxophone Quartet fame, and Laurie Anderson. Tiny Desk Unit stopped playing together in the winter of 1981.