A honky-tonk is a type of bar that plays country music for people who visit, or it refers to the style of music played there. It can also describe a specific kind of piano called a tack piano, which is used to play this music. These bars are often found in the South and Southwest regions of the United States. Many famous country music artists, such as Jimmie Rodgers, Ernest Tubb, Lefty Frizzell, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Horton, and Merle Haggard, began their careers as amateur musicians in honky-tonks.

The term "honky-tonk" has unclear origins. It was first used to describe lively performances in areas of the old West, including Oklahoma, the Indian Territories, and Texas, as well as the theaters that hosted these shows.

The earliest form of honky-tonk music was a style of piano playing connected to ragtime but focused more on rhythm than melody or harmony. This style developed in places where pianos were often poorly maintained, sometimes out of tune or missing keys. This type of music influenced a later style called boogie-woogie. Before World War II, the music industry began calling hillbilly music from Texas, Oklahoma, and the West Coast "honky-tonk" music. In the 1950s, honky-tonk music became very popular, with artists like Webb Pierce, Hank Locklin, Lefty Frizzell, Faron Young, George Jones, and Hank Williams leading the way.

Etymology

The origin of the term "honky-tonk" is not known. The first known written use of the term was in an article from the Peoria Journal on June 28, 1874, which said, "The police spent a busy day today raiding the bagnios and honkytonks."

Later examples of the term appear in newspapers from the 1890s, including The Dallas Morning News in 1890, the Galveston Daily News in 1892 (which used the term to describe an adult establishment in Fort Worth, Texas), and The Daily Ardmoreite in Oklahoma in 1894. Early uses of the term in print were mostly found in areas near cattle drive trails that stretched from Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, into south central Oklahoma. This suggests the term may have been a local word used by cowboys who traveled these routes.

The sound of "honky-tonk" (or "honk-a-tonk") and the types of places called "honky-tonks" suggest the term may have come from the loud, noisy music and activity heard in these places.

One possible explanation is that the word "tonk" might have come from the name of a piano brand made by William Tonk & Bros., an American company that produced large upright pianos. The company was founded in 1873, and a piano with the label "Ernest A. Tonk" was made in 1889. However, the term "honky-tonk" was already in use before this time, so this connection is not certain.

An early attempt to explain the term’s meaning (spelled "honkatonk") was published in 1900 by the New York Sun and later shared in other newspapers.

History

An article in the Los Angeles Times from July 28, 1929, titled " 'Honky-Tonk' Origin Told," likely responded to the Sophie Tucker movie musical Honky Tonk (1929). The article discusses the meaning and possible origin of the term "honky-tonk." Around the same time, the song "They Call Me Sister Honky-Tonk," written by Harvey Oliver Brooks and performed by Mae West in the 1933 film I’m No Angel, provides another example of the term’s use.

Honky-tonks were rough places in the Deep South and Southwest that played country music and served alcohol to working-class people. Some had dancing to music played by pianists or small bands, and others were linked to prostitution. Katrina Hazzard-Gordon wrote that honky-tonks were "the first urban manifestation of the jook" and that the term became associated with a style of music. This music, similar to classic blues in structure, had a slightly faster tempo and was suited for African-American dances.

In their 1916 song "Down in Honky Tonk Town," Chris Smith and Charles McCarron wrote, "It's underneath the ground, where all the fun is found."

The origin of the term "honky-tonk" is unclear, but it originally referred to bawdy variety shows in the West, including Oklahoma, the Indian Territories, and Texas. These shows were held in theaters that sometimes had attached gambling houses and always had bars. The earliest written records called these places "variety theaters" and described the entertainment as "variety shows."

Writers like Wyatt Earp and E.C. Abbott later described honky-tonks in cowtowns of Kansas, Nebraska, and Montana in the 1870s and 1880s. They described these places with violence and women, but contemporary accounts often called them "hurdy-gurdy shows," possibly linked to the term "hurdy-gurdy," which referred to a small, portable musical instrument.

As late as 1913, Col. Edwin Emerson, a former leader of the Rough Riders, hosted a honky-tonk party in New York City. The Rough Riders were recruited from Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and the Indian Territories, showing that the term was still in use during the Spanish-American War.

Although honky-tonk music is often linked to the American South, it developed unique features in different parts of the United States. These differences came from local cultures, histories, and migration patterns that influenced the music, style, and settings of honky-tonk in key areas.

Honky-tonk first appeared in oil boom towns and cattle-driving regions of Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Over time, it spread west to California and gained national attention through the music industry centered in Nashville, Tennessee. Each region contributed unique elements to the honky-tonk tradition:

• Oklahoma – Dust Bowl migration and diverse musical influences shaped the honky-tonk sound here. Electric instruments were used early to help music be heard over loud bar noise, and artists like Johnny Bond and Wanda Jackson started their careers in this region.
• Texas – Honky-tonk in Texas developed around rural dancehalls and cowboy culture. Artists like Bob Wills and Ernest Tubb helped define a rhythm-driven sound. Dancehall traditions and the Texas two-step also influenced the style.
• California (Bakersfield) – In the 1960s, descendants of Oklahoma and Texas migrants in California created the Bakersfield Sound, which rejected the polished "Nashville Sound" in favor of a rougher, working-class style. Artists like Merle Haggard became known for this approach.
• Tennessee (Nashville) – While honky-tonk began in bars, Nashville helped spread it nationally through venues like the Grand Ole Opry. However, the rise of the "Nashville Sound" later led to a more polished version of country music that some felt moved away from honky-tonk’s roots.

Honky-tonks began in the late 19th century, often in the Texas-Oklahoma area, and were frequented by working-class people. These venues were known for their rough atmosphere, with activities like drinking and gambling. By the mid-20th century, the focus shifted from a blue-collar crowd to music and dancing. Today, honky-tonk bars mix elements of music clubs and tourist-friendly spaces, often featuring neon beer signs and wooden dance floors similar to those from the mid-20th century.

Notable bars and landmarks

Tootsie's is located in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, behind the Ryman Auditorium. It is known as one of the most famous honky tonk bars in the history of honky tonk. The bar was originally opened by Hattie Louise “Tootsie” Bess. It got its name after a painter accidentally covered the bar in orchid-colored paint. Tootsie's quickly became a central location for notable country stars such as Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, Kris Kristofferson, and Loretta Lynn. Though it declined in popularity after the Grand Ole Opry moved in 1974, it was revived in the 1990s by Steve Smith and is still open to the public today.

Originally named Sherwood Cryer, Gilley’s Nightclub in Pasadena, Texas, was opened in 1970. The nightclub featured a shooting gallery, showers for truckers, a rodeo arena with mechanical bulls, pool tables, punching bags, and a dance floor big enough for thousands. Gilley’s hosted many different musical artists, such as Loretta Lynn, Ernest Tubb, Emmylou Harris, and Roseanne Cash, and launched the career of Mickey Gilley. However, in 1988, Mickey Gilley became frustrated with the nightclub because the previous owners refused to make renovations, clean the bathrooms, and address parking lot issues. This led to him gaining control of the nightclub after a lawsuit. Later in 1989, the nightclub had to be closed due to loss of profits. Then in 1990, the nightclub burned down and is now no longer operational.

Opened in 1981 by Texas A&M graduate and professional football character Billy Bob Barnett, Billy Bob's Texas is located in a former cattle barn in the Fort Worth Stockyards and is known as the World's Largest Honky-Tonk. This building spanned over 100,000 square feet (9,300 m) and contained multiple dance floors, stages for concerts, and an indoor rodeo arena. Billy Bob's hosted some of the biggest names in country music and even boosted the careers of people such as George Strait, Reba McEntire, Travis Tritt, and many others. Despite this success, Billy Bob's Texas closed its doors on January 8, 1988, due to bankruptcy. This was a significant hit to tourism in Fort Worth, Texas, because Billy Bob's Texas was a major attraction. However, by November 28, 1988, the establishment was saved when some of its original investors returned to help manage it. Billy Bob's Texas remains open today and continues to be a major tourist attraction for country fans.

Although it may not be labeled as a “honky tonk,” Gruene Hall was (and still is) a very influential dance hall for many artists who are considered to be in the Honky Tonk genre. Gruene Hall is known as the oldest dance hall in Texas that is still operational today. Although it was open in 1878, ownership has preserved it over the years, even keeping the same layout as when it first opened. Gruene Hall is a massive 6,000-square-foot dance hall that has hosted musicians such as Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, LeAnn Rimes, George Strait, Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker, Lyle Lovett, Hal Ketchum, and Gregg Allman. Gruene Hall has been a staple for many Honky Tonk artists and a living history for all tourists and Honky Tonk fans to enjoy.

Dancing and cultural significance

Dance has been an important part of the honky-tonk culture for many years. This style of music often includes fast-paced songs that are good for dancing, such as two-stepping and the jitterbug.

In Texas honky-tonks, many traditional dances are performed in the halls. These include the Texas Two-Step, the waltz, and the polka. A Texas historian named Christian Wallace said, "Everything that's important about Texas culture: barbecue, beer, two-steps, waltzes and polkas" (Wallace 2019). Wallace explained that these dances help people connect socially, not just for fun.

In 1980, the movie Urban Cowboy was released. The film was set in a honkey-tonk and showed typical honky-tonk dances and mechanical bull rides. This movie helped spread the honky-tonk culture across the country.

Music

The honky-tonk sound includes a group of instruments that play a two-beat rhythm with a clear beat. Steel guitar and fiddle are the main instruments used.

The first style of music called honky-tonk was a type of piano playing similar to ragtime but focused more on rhythm than melody or harmony. This style developed in places where pianos were not well-maintained, often out of tune with broken keys.

Honky-tonk music influenced the boogie-woogie piano style, as seen in Jelly Roll Morton’s 1938 record “Honky Tonk Music” and Meade Lux Lewis’s popular song “Honky Tonk Train Blues.” Lewis recorded this song many times from 1927 into the 1950s, and other musicians, including Oscar Peterson, also performed it.

The twelve-bar blues instrumental “Honky Tonk” by the Bill Doggett Combo, featuring a smooth saxophone melody and a slow, strong beat, was an early rock and roll hit. Fats Domino, a musician from New Orleans, was also known for playing honky-tonk piano. His songs “Blueberry Hill” and “Walkin’ to New Orleans” were popular on music charts.

Before World War II, the music industry began calling honky-tonk music played from Texas and Oklahoma to the West Coast “hillbilly music.” Later, the term came to describe the main sound in country music, which developed in Nashville as Western swing became popular there. Originally, this music used the guitar, fiddle, string bass, and steel guitar (introduced from Hawaiian folk music). Early vocals were rough and nasal, as heard in songs by Floyd Tillman and Hank Williams. Over time, vocals became clearer, as seen in the work of George Jones and Faron Young. Lyrics often described working-class life, with themes like lost love, loneliness, alcoholism, and sadness.

In 1941, the song “Walking the Floor Over You” by Ernest Tubb, his sixth release for Decca Records, helped establish the honky-tonk style and made Tubb one of its leading musicians. Tubb, from Crisp, Texas, was inspired by Jimmie Rodgers and combined Western swing, which used electric guitars, with other country music sounds. He brought this style to Nashville, where he was the first musician to play electric guitar on the Grand Ole Opry. In the 1950s, honky-tonk reached its peak popularity with artists like Webb Pierce, Hank Locklin, Lefty Frizzell, Faron Young, George Jones, and Hank Williams. By the mid- to late 1950s, rockabilly (a mix of honky-tonk and rhythm and blues) and the polished sound of Nashville country music reduced honky-tonk’s early dominance.

The Rolling Stones’ number-one single and gold record “Honky Tonk Women” (1969) was based on the sound of 1940s honky-tonk artists like Hank Williams and referenced the image of honky-tonk bars as places linked to prostitution. In the 1970s, outlaw country artists, known for their rough honky-tonk style, included Gary Stewart, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, David Allan Coe, and Billy Joe Shaver.