History Honky-tonk

jimmie rodgers, 1 of earliest honky-tonk innovators, 1920s-1930s

an article in los angeles times of july 28, 1929, headline honky-tonk origin told, in response sophie tucker movie musical, honky tonk (1929), reads:

honky-tonks rough establishments, providing country music in deep south , southwest , serving alcoholic beverages working-class clientele. honky-tonks offered dancing music played pianists or small bands, , centers of prostitution. katrina hazzard-gordon wrote honky-tonk first urban manifestation of jook , , name became synonymous style of music. related classic blues in tonal structure, honky-tonk has tempo stepped up. rhythmically suited many african-american dance.

as chris smith , charles mccarron wrote in 1916 hit song down in honky tonk town , s underneath ground, fun found.

origins of establishment

although derivation of term unknown, honky tonk referred bawdy variety shows in west (oklahoma , indian territories , texas) , theaters housing them. earliest mention of them in print refers them variety theaters , describe entertainment variety shows . theaters had attached gambling house , bar.

in recollections long after frontiers closed, writers such wyatt earp , e.c. abbott referred honky-tonks in cowtowns of kansas, nebraska, , montana in 1870s , 1880s. recollections contain lurid accounts of women , violence accompanying shows. however, in contemporary accounts these called hurdy-gurdy shows, possibly derived term hurdy-gurdy, mistakenly applied small, portable barrel organ played organ grinders , buskers.

as late 1913, col. edwin emerson, former rough rider commander, hosted honky-tonk party in new york city. rough riders recruited ranches of texas, new mexico, oklahoma , indian territories, term still in popular use during spanish–american war.