Lubbock Cotton Club
Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In 1938, Clyde Trusty opened a ballroom in a renovated army quonset hut at this site. The Lubbock Cotton Club hosted well-known orchestras and big bands popular at the time. The venue expanded the following year, with room for 1600 people on one of the largest dance floors in west Texas. Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys were among the first western swing bands to play the cotton club. In 1952, Ralph Lowe bought the business and brought in national acts including Elvis Presley, who met Buddy Holly during a 1955 show. African American musicians including Charles Brown also played here. In 1958 fire destroyed the club and Lowe sold the business. The cotton club continued in a new site until 1980 when it closed for good. (2008)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Clyde Trusty opened the Lubbock Cotton Club in a renovated army quonset hut in 1938, and it quickly grew into one of west Texas's largest dance floors, big enough for 1,600 revelers. Western swing king Bob Wills played early, and under later owner Ralph Lowe the club drew national acts including Elvis Presley—who met Buddy Holly there in 1955—along with African American artists such as Charles Brown. Fire destroyed the original building in 1958, but the club carried on elsewhere until 1980.
Why it matters
The Cotton Club was a crossroads of western swing, early rock and roll, and rhythm and blues, capturing the musical ferment of mid-century west Texas that helped shape American popular music.
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Related people
- · Clyde Trusty
- · Ralph Lowe
- · Bob Wills
- · Elvis Presley
- · Buddy Holly
- · Charles Brown
Themes & tags
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