Early honky-tonk music is believed to have begun in clubs and bars in the southern states of America and was played on piano’s that were generally worn out or had keys missing. It concentrated more on rhythm than quality of lyrics and was generally all about lost romances,drinking and unemployment. A popular piano of that period was made by an ‘Ernest A Tonk’ of Chicago and New York, so it’s possible that this influenced the name, but it’s not certain.
By 1940 the music industry began to refer to the Honky-Tonk played in Texas, Oklahoma and the west coast as Hillbilly, and more recently as the primary sound in country music.
In 1941, Ernest Tubb's recording of “Walking the Floor Over You” made him an overnight sensation, which thrust Honky-Tonk into mainstream prominence.
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| Hank Williams |
Hank Williams (one of the most important country music artists of all time), further popularized Honky-Tonk with his emergence in the late ‘40s, and Lefty Frizzell became so popular in the 1950’s that he rose to almost god-like stature in country music circles.
As new and varied styles of country music came along, Honky-Tonk remained very popular and no country club or venue is ever without at least one Honky-Tonk band on the bill.
Take a peak at all the country music stars and their songs by paying a visit to my store at www.countrysongscountrysingers.com or click the link on the right hand side.
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